Ascot for the affluent; LETTERS.

WHAT will Ascot racecourse management decide to do next to discriminate against the less than affluent racegoer? First, they pull down a much-loved grandstand and in its place build an airport building in which most of the space is occupied by an atrium, providing no accommodation for those who wish to sit in shelter from the elements and watch horses racing.

Then they push the silver ring and the heath enclosure so far down the course and away from the winning post that patrons have to wait to hear the loudspeaker announcements to know the result and, at the same time, pay for the privilege.

Finally, they have excluded many racing enthusiasts completely by closing the silver ring, the heath enclosure and that excellent innovation the east enclosure.

The cheapest entry on King George day was pounds 25 and, of course, there were no concessions. A cost of pounds 50 for two people on a limited budget is too much, however badly one may wish to maintain an interest in a lifetime's hobby. When one is also faced with the likelihood of not being able to find a seat for the whole afternoon, then it is simply unfair.

I realise that the premier and grandstand enclosures were well attended. Ascot is in a very affluent part of Britain, but that does not mean that everyone who attended will have been satisfied with the experience they had there and, from personal contacts, I know some were not. Neither does it mean the less affluent should be excluded purely on price.

As for us, my husband and I returned home to watch on television. We flipped over to the racing from York, too, and enviously saw the thousands of racegoers enjoying the atmosphere and a picnic in the centre of the course for pounds 7. Shame on Ascot's management for pandering to so many 'drinking' fans and excluding so many racing fans.

Doreen Dodd Camberley, Surrey