Caught on camera

This will be the 35th year that prize-winning photographer Alec Russell has worked at the Royal meeting and he's eagerly looking forward to what he considers the country's best racing fixture.

"I love the Royal Ascot meeting," said Russell. "It's absolutely the best, with the quality of races and the greatest horses in action. It's in a class of its own."

Russell, who lives at Huttons Ambo, is a familiar a widely respected on racecourses around the country. In 1998 he had the honour of being voted Racing Photographer of the Year.

"It is a job I love doing. The photographers are closer than anyone else except the jockeys to the races when we're on the rails photographing the action," he said.

His first Royal Ascot was in 1971 and was one of the wettest he can recall. So wet, in fact, that for the last race, the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs, he was the only photographer left.

"I was literally soaked to the skin, even with waterproofs," he recalls. "I slowly dried out on the train from Kings Cross back to York,"

Russell has seen and photographed some great racehorses at the Royal meeting. His highlights include the Gold Cup battle between Le Moss and Ardross, both of them winning the race twice in the late seventies and early eighties. He also remembers well Sagaro's three Gold Cup triumphs (1975-77) and the sprinting feats of Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby's star Lochnagar, ridden by Edward Hide, winning the 1976 King's Stand Stakes.

That was the first leg of the sprint Triple Crown and Lochnagar went on to become the first horse for 27 years to complete the treble.

More recently Russell has photographed the triumphs of Middleham trainer Mark Johnston's horses and those of Malton's Richard Fahey, Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby and Sessay's David Nicholls.

But the day that will always stand out above all others for Russell is June 21, 2000.

A tradition had developed where people in the racing world owners, breeders, trainers, members of the media, including photographers were invited by Douglas Erskine-Crum, the Ascot chief executive, to lunch before racing at Royal Ascot. It was Russell's privilege to be invited on that day five years ago.

"The weather was glorious and the food magnificent," recalls Russell. "It was a fine introduction to a fabulous afternoon."

Tim Easterby won the second race, the Queen Mary Stakes, with his filly Romantic Myth, ridden by Kevin Darley, but the next race was the one which will last in Russell's memory.

Frankie Dettori was out of action following his plane crash and American jockey Jerry Bailey wore the royal blue Godolphin colours on Dubai Millennium, who had won the Dubai World Cup in spectacular fashion in his previous race.

Dubai Millennium gave another outstanding performance to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes by eight lengths.

"That, without question, was one of the greatest racehorses I have ever seen and provided the climax of a day to remember," said Russell.

Another privilege Russell has had is to be one of a select few to photograph the Queen Mother presenting the Queen with the Queen's Vase.

"Presentations years ago used to be done in private, not publicly as they are now. And after Buttress, ridden by Willie Carson, won the Vase in 1979, Russell was one of three or four photographers to take pictures of the Queen receiving the trophy from her mother.

"My favourite Royal Ascot race isn't the Gold Cup," says Russell. "That's a long distance event for stayers and not favoured so much these days. My favourite is the St James's Palace Stakes, which is run over one mile and brings together some superb horses including the Guineas winners."

Looking ahead to Royal Ascot at York, Russell said: "Knavesmire was the first racecourse I ever went on, about fifty years ago, so to have the Royal meeting here will be really exciting."

Updated: 12:39 Wednesday, June 08, 2005