The grandiosity of the Royal Ascot has been a tricky one this week due to the extreme heat, as dozens of racegoers were treated for heat-related issues amid soaring temperatures. On Wednesday’s Ladies’ Day alone, at least 42 people required medical attention on-site, with one individual having to hospitalised with suspected heatstroke, then again if we mix sun and alcohol we can expect no good to come from it! 

The prestigious five-day racing event, renowned for its elegance, fashion, and royal appearances, was met with a heatwave sweeping southern England. Temperatures climbed to nearly 30 °C, yes, those of us in Spain may laugh but this left spectators sweltering in their formal attire. Emergency services and medical tents remained busy, treating symptoms ranging from dizziness and dehydration to full-blown heat exhaustion.

In response, organisers deployed extra misting fans, increased access to free drinking water, and installed shaded rest areas across the grounds. Officials issued repeated announcements encouraging people to drink plenty of fluids (and by that I don’t mean a good old glass of bubbly) and sun protection. Despite the conditions, more than 40,000 guests attended Wednesday’s proceedings.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat-health alert during the week, warning of risks to vulnerable individuals, particularly young and the elderly

Racing Carries On

Despite the challenging heat, the horse races have continued uninterrupted.  Of course they would, why would running at a flat out gallop in 30º heat affect the horse? Trainers and veterinarians remained on high alert, but emphasised that the thoroughbreds were coping well with the conditions and that they couldn’t just stop the races especially as the bets had already been placed, and as you all well know, money before animal welfare!  (I might have thrown that last bit in). 

Race officials took proactive steps to protect the horses, including installing mobile misting units, providing over 3,000 litres of iced water, and watering the track overnight to maintain “Good to Firm” going, because if anything is going to bring a horse down it would just be the condition of the track and not the intense heat.

Leading trainers, including those from Aidan O’Brien’s stables, said horses are generally well-conditioned and able to tolerate the heat, provided post-race cooling measures are in place. Then again he’s not a horse so how would he know?

Thankfully, Thursday’s Gold Cup went ahead without incident, with Godolphin’s Trawlerman claiming victory in a record time of 4:15.02.

Royal Ascot, a staple of the British summer social calendar, may now be forced to reconsider its approach to climate extremes. While the spectacle and racing have endured, the week has underscored the growing need for preparedness as high temperatures become more frequent. Hopefully in these preparations they will also reconsider the hours in which the races are held avoiding the hottest hours of the day so that the horses may be a little more comfortable. 

Casa de los Navajas in Torremolinos will host the exhibition ‘Phygital: Enmociones’ by artist Marló, open to the public free of charge from Wednesday, June 25, to August 11. 

The hybrid exhibition mixes the tangible world of physical artworks with an immersive digital experience, bridging traditional and contemporary art forms. Marló displays new paintings and sculptures, interactive installations, and the official launch of her virtual gallery in the metaverse, allowing global access to her work. The exhibition merges hands-on craftsmanship with new technologies and so explores innovative artistic languages.

In the artist’s own words, ‘Phygital: Enmociones’ aims to “champion art as a universal language of emotional connection, introduce digital realms to new audiences from an artistic perspective, and show how art can thrive both on gallery walls and in a borderless 3D environment.” 

The exhibition hopes to be a meeting point for art and technology enthusiasts, reaffirming Torremolinos as a talk-about cultural hub on the Costa del Sol.

Visiting hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 2pm and 6.30pm to 10pm. The Case de Navajas is at Calle Antonio Navajas Ruiz – Bajondillo, Torremolinos.

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Spain has requested an exemption from NATO’s plan to increase member countries’ defence spending to 5 per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that Reuters reported on Thursday could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to sign an agreement committing to the target.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, sent a letter to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg requesting a “more flexible formula” that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application.

“Committing to a 5 per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem,” Sanchez wrote in the letter.

The legitimate right of each country

However, Sanchez made it clear that Spain does not want to obstruct the outcome of NATO’s summit next week. President Donald Trump has requested that all NATO countries increase their military spending, but for this to happen, all 32 countries would need to agree.

Trump has said NATO partners are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short.

“It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to,” Sanchez added.

At an estimated 1.28 per cent of its GDP, Spain has the lowest military spending among NATO members, according to Reuters. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO’s current target of 2 per cent, but 5 per cent seems to be out of the question. The prime minister said Spain would raise its defence budget by 10.5 billion euros ($12 billion) in 2025 to meet the 2 per cent NATO target.

Russia could attack by 2032

At home in Spain, more defence spending is unpopular among several of Sanchez’s coalition partners. When Sánchez announced that Spain would reach NATO’s previous 2 per cent in April, coalition partners, mainly from the far left, expressed their anger.

Spain is not alone in opposing the defence budget increase. Belgium, Canada and Italy will also struggle to hike security spending by billions of dollars, AP noted.

A key question still to be answered is what timeframe countries will be given to reach an agreed-upon new spending goal. However, Rutte has suggested 2032, saying Russia could be ready to launch an attack on NATO territory by 2030.