Ascot officials will refund premier enclosure customers following a public relations blunder over their new dress code policy at Saturday’s meeting.
Racegoers who did not conform with the rules were given an orange sticker to signify they had been warned that similar attire would not be acceptable at future meetings.
It did not go down well with punters and Ascot officials have accepted it was a bad move.
“It is clear that we let down many of our premier enclosure customers yesterday with a well intentioned but misguided policy,” Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett said.
“No customer should be expected to pay for such an experience and we have taken the view that all premier enclosure visitors will receive a full refund.”
The stickers were intended to signify patrons who had already been warned so they would not be approached again.
The move to upgrade the standard of dress at the course came a week after the club served notice fascinators would not be permitted in the Royal enclosure at the showcase meeting in June.
According to the Ascot regulations, a fascinator becomes a headpiece when it is attached to “a base of four inches or more”.
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