Royal Ascot is "preparing to relax its famous dress code to combat the effects of the summer heatwave," according to Mark Souster of the LONDON TIMES. Temperatures at the course were "expected to exceed" 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. A spokesperson said that the weather would be "monitored throughout the afternoon" and, if it got too hot, gentlemen would "be allowed to remove their jackets." A crowd of 45,000 was expected, with 13,000 inside the Royal Enclosure "where top hat and tails are obligatory." It was estimated that 10,000 men would be "wearing a morning coat." Suits and ties are "compulsory for those elsewhere." The spokesperson said, "If it gets very hot a dress code notification would be put out. If it is becoming uncomfortable, we would let people take their jacket off and relax a little bit. ... Health and safety is obviously paramount." In another first, people "will be allowed to bring bottled water on to the site or water bottles which can be refilled at many rehydration stations around the course." A "close watch will also be kept on the horses, with many more buckets of water available along the course and in the pull-up areas." Misting fans, "which throw out cooling spray, are a feature of the new unsaddling enclosure" (LONDON TIMES, 6/20).
