Jockey Jimmy Fortune had ended Wednesday, the second day of Royal Ascot, with four winners. Thursday's proceedings began in ideal racing weather and Jimmy Fortune wasted no time cementing his position at the top of the jockeys' standings with a decisive win in the opening race, the Norfolk Stakes. Eleven ran in the five-furlong race and the time was 1:00.83 seconds. Winker Watson, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, was bet down to 2-1 and finished the strongest to give Jimmy Fortune his fifth winner at the royal meeting. The winning margin was 1 1/4 lengths.

All My Loving, on the basis of her showing in the Oaks, was the favorite in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. She started at 13-8 and drifted ever so slowly to 2 to 1 and over. Not an encouraging sign at all. Silkwood, in the hands of Phillip Robinson, raced outside all the way, moved with a little over two furlongs out, led soon after and won by a widening five lengths. All My Loving hardly traveled well, could not quicken when asked but ran on resolutely to be the runner-up. Silkwood, at 4-1 and longer, covered the twelve furlongs in 2:30.23 second.

Fourteen horses answered the starter's call in the Ascot Gold Cup. Half an hour before the race, a sharp downpour sent the fans scurrying for cover. The more fashionable and the better-prepared opened up their umbrellas. The dark skies floated away as the horses moved to the gate, and the rain stopped. Yeats, the Aidan O'Brien trainee with Mick Kinane, was the 8-13 favorite. The son of Saddler's Wells was defending his Ascot Gold Cup title. Sergeant Cecil was next in demand. Cherry Mix had been brought down from 20-1 to 14-1. It was a steady gallop and Lord du Dus was showing the way. Yeats raced in mid-division. They turned for home and Kinane asked the favorite to go. In a trice, Yeats took command and it appeared all over. With just about a furlong left, Yeats seemed to lose focus and began edging left. There was an anxious moment or two as Jamie Spencer brought Geordieland along from the rear and made a run on the inside of Yeats. Mick Kinane, realizing the peril he was in, gathered his mount and Yeats, as all good horses do, responded to his call. It was a 1 1/2 length victory and the time for the 20-furlong trip was 4 minutes 20.78 seconds. Yeats earned 127,755 pounds.

Mick Kinane said, "he settled well and was moving very well. I knew the front horses will stop. I moved sooner than I wanted to. He (Yeats) has developed into a beautiful racehorse."

Aidan O'Brien stated, "he has put on weight. Looks like he runs better when heavier. We will take him home and look at all the options."

Stan James, a bookmaking company, has Yeats at 2-1 to make it three in a row in the Ascot Gold Cup next year.

Johnny Murtagh rode his second winner of the royal meeting in the next race, the Britannia Stakes. Eddie Jock won the one mile contest by 1/2 length in 1 39.92. He was 33-1.

Zaham, winner on Derby day at Epsom Downs, gained an encore in the Hampton Court Stakes. Richard Hills had Zaham prominent, led between horses in the final furlong and prevailed in a photo finish over Al Shemali. Fourteen ran. The time was 2 06.27 for the 10-furlong event. Zaham was the 7-2 favorite.

King George V Stakes saw 19 runners go post-ward. The 12-furlong race went to Heron Bay, Steve Drowne up. The winning margin was a head over Filios, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Heron Bay, at 20-1, lay in mid-division, made headway three furlongs out, led, was beaten, rallied to regain the lead in the waning yards. The time was 2:30.11.