Guide to what to wear at popular UK horse races

Going to a one-off event or to see something altogether new can be fraught with fashion sink holes. It’s always possible that you make a pig’s ear of your outfit and stand out like a sore thumb in front of your besties, which could lead to dreaded friendship fade.

Going to watch live horse racing is no different, with high heels, hats and dresses seeming inappropriate for a day out in the elements, as barely tamed animals hare past.

But fear not, because we are here to help, with a rundown of exactly what you will need fashion-wise for a day of watching the long noses.

Dressing up to go and watch the races is a highlight of the year for many people

Headwear – Hats and Fascinators

Everyone has seen celebrities, regular race goers and even the queen don a hat when they pay a visit to race meets and festivals such as Cheltenham and Ascot.

However, finding just the right hat for the occasion can be as tricky as understanding the racing form guide, with your usual high street stores not really cutting it when it comes to fancy headwear.

In the trade such hats are called “Occasion” headwear, and some of the best places to find original pieces that will set you apart from the crowd are Whiteley Hats, as well as online stockist The Hat Place, although be ready for such pieces to cost a substantial amount.

With the racing season being long, you may want to have a number of outfits lined up for each occasion, so a good cheap option, rather than a fully-fledged hat, is a fascinator. You will see plenty of glamourous race goers sporting these cheaper fashion statements as they peruse race cards on phones or in horsey magazines, and the best thing about them is that they can easily be picked up from department stores like House of Fraser and Debenhams.

They may not have many other uses aside from weddings, but fascinators are a great accessory to have on race day

Dress or Trousers?

Typically, women tend to go to the races in a dress, with few daring to do something different. However, there is a new trend on the block that sees jumpsuits and trousers appearing in the stands and the royal enclosures. We imagine the reason for this is so that a sudden gust of wind doesn’t leave you embarrassed or having to choose between saving your dignity or your drink.

If you have your heart set on a dress, then why not go with a floral pattern, so that the dress can be re-used at weddings? It will also be more resistant to stains when your partner squirts hotdog ketchup all over you.

Footwear – Heels or Flats?

If you are a little vertically challenged, then heels can be a godsend at the races, boosting your vantage point so you do not miss a second of the racing action.

Unfortunately, the benefits end there, especially if large parts of the viewing area are covered in grass, with skinny heels likely to sink into the turf and leave you horribly embarrassed.

With this in mind, many female race goers are choosing to go with thicker heels that will not sink into the soil. There have even been cases of people wearing fashionable wellies, although this should only be resorted to if the weather is particularly bad. Wedge espadrilles are also a very in option just at the moment.

Finally, whatever you do, ensure that your chosen footwear is comfortable, because seating is sparse at most race grounds, meaning you will be on your feet for the majority of the day.