The sport of horse racing is known and loved worldwide, with audiences attending major events from Dubai to Doncaster. Once known as the sport of kings, equine racing is no longer the male-dominated arena it once was, and this can be seen in the success of the various ladies days held at major tracks. Ladies day has become so popular at the best-loved racing festivals that they are now sell outs with tickets snapped up months in advance and holidays booked around the day.
Visitors come from across the globe to savour the glamour, fashion and excitement. This is in addition to the attraction of betting through the best Canadian sportsbooks and global betting apps on thoroughbred racehorses competing for huge prize pots. Some come for the gambling, others to enjoy the racing, but for many of the women in attendance, ladies day is all about celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of their sex. It’s about getting dressed up, adding glamour to the event and attempting to steal the show by winning the cash prizes offered in the best-dressed ladies competitions.
Ladies day is celebrated in many major racing cities worldwide but is most famous in the United Kingdom, where horse racing and ladies day now go hand in hand. In this article, we pick out our favourite ladies days UK horse racing has to offer. Each event is attended by women from England, Scotland, Canada, the US, Dubai, India, Pakistan, Australia and even further afield. These are days that unique people from all walks of life with a passion for horse racing and fashion.
Royal Ascot
Racing in Berkshire is renowned for bringing us some of the top Grade 1 events on the calendar, and it’s a royal affair with members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace in London attending every year. This makes it one of the most popular and special race weeks of the year, with fans coming from far and wide to see the royal carriage before cheering on their favourite thoroughbreds.
Ladies day goes on the third afternoon of racing, but you’ll have to go the extra mile to win the best-dressed prize with royalty in attendance. Hats are the focus of the day, and you can expect to see some of the top designers represented. It’s unashamedly lavish. Tickets are already on sale for next year’s event, and you’d better act fast to secure yours.
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Festival is a huge fixture on the UK sporting calendar, with four days of top-class national hunt horse racing watched by thousands at Prestbury Park and millions thanks to the live TV coverage. It’s known as the UK versus Ireland equine battle, but it has become a multi-national event in recent times. Some of the top Grade 1 races feature over the four days, including the highlight of the week, which is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Cheltenham Festival ladies day takes place on the second afternoon of racing which is always a Wednesday. There’s style on the terraces, in the VIP boxes and even from the television presenters with ladies battling it out for the best-dressed award. This is every bit as elegant as Royal Ascot, but the racing is even more spectacular, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase the main attraction. If you are a fan of horse racing, glamour and betting, ladies day at the Cheltenham Festival is a must-see.
Aintree
Aintree racecourse near Liverpool is a venue known for hosting the Grand National, which rates as one of the wealthiest steeplechase events in the sport. The Grand National is the highlight of the Aintree festival, with the main event run on Saturday to bring the curtain down on a spectacular few days of action.
Earlier in the week, before attentions turn to the National, there’s the Aintree Festival ladies day which is held on the Friday of this three-day meeting. It is now seen as the “fun day” of the week, a time when visitors enjoy a brief break from the drama of the National to enjoy the Aintree Festival in all its glory. This is planned to serve as a reminder that there’s more to the Aintree Festival than the National, and it’s well worth a visit, especially if you are able to secure tickets for both the Friday and Saturday of racing.