"There were other distinct differences between Ascot North and Ascot South. There was less flesh on display, less conspicuous champagne consumption and, of course, no Frankie Dettori — whose jumping dismounts became a feature of the meeting.
This was a distinctively northern occasion. The on-course bookies hailed from Pontefract, Castleford and all points north, as did the punters, and one grandstand bar ran out of John Smiths bitter before the first race began.
A spokesman for Sodexho Prestige, caterers for the meeting, said that they had laid on extra kegs of beer and were on standby with additional supplies of potatoes and vegetables to meet the demands of heartier northern appetites. He added: “Northern appetites are perceived as being that bit larger than down South.” "
Usually, this kind of sneering is leavened by a smattering of wit but not on this occasion. There is even the statutory reference to northern headgear:
"two pals on a day-trip from Stockport had flat caps, rather than top hats."
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