Grand National Revellers Glam Up and Defy Relaxed Racing Dress Code
Despite the rain, around 150,000 racing fans braved the weather to attend the Grand National Festival in April.
It was the first edition of the meeting at which a more relaxed dress code was formally introduced, and yet that didn’t deter many thousands from getting dressed up to the nines.
The Jockey Club, which owns 15 key racecourses in the UK including Aintree (home of the Grand National) and Cheltenham, announced earlier this year that they were relaxing the formal dress code at their venues in a bid to make horse racing more “accessible and inclusive”, instead allowing punters to wear anything they feel “comfortable” in.
But that didn’t stop those attending the Grand National from dusting off their finery, with some commenting that “people look forward to dressing up” and “it’s important to maintain the tradition” of getting spruced up for a day at the races.
So what are the dress codes for the key racing meetings around the world?
Melbourne Cup
Given that the weather can easily reach 70 degrees and higher in Melbourne each November, it’s no surprise that some patrons are confused as to what to wear to the Melbourne Cup.
For those with general admission tickets, there is no formal dress code at the Flemington Racecourse—instead, punters are advised to “dress suitably for a fun day at the races”, which leaves plenty of scope for interpretation.
For those attending the Melbourne Cup within the Members Enclosure, there are some more specific guidelines to follow. Women are not allowed to wear jumpsuits, playsuits or shorts, nor bear their midriff, while men are required to wear a blazer or sports jacket, tailored trousers, a tie and shoes in the storied fashion of a race that has existed for well over a century.
Horse race in Australia, The Melbourne Cup, 1896.pic.twitter.com/FCffiitbG6
— World Of History (@UmarBzv) April 23, 2023
Royal Ascot
One of the most abiding images of horse racing is crowds dressed in top hats and tails and elegant dresses and fascinators at Royal Ascot—the meeting that was attended annually by Queen Elizabeth II (and presumably will be by King Charles III).
And the dress code remains, for the most part, in many of the course’s individual enclosures. Ladies are requested to dress in a fashion that ‘befits a formal occasion’, with strapless dresses and tops a no-no. Midriffs must not be shown, dresses must fall below the knee and hats/fascinators should be worn.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s polka dot Alessandra Rich dress at Royal Ascot nods to Princess Diana, who wore a near-identical dress to the Berkshire racecourse in 1988: https://t.co/PMZSWil1Ok pic.twitter.com/IaT0Nr4bmf
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) June 17, 2022
For men, a dress code of jacket, smart trousers and a collared shirt is a minimum in all enclosures, while in the royal enclosures matching suits of the same color must be worn with a tie. Trainers are not permitted.
Kentucky Derby
It can get pretty toasty in the south-eastern corner of America each May as well, and that is reflected in a dress code at the Kentucky Derby that is easygoing in many areas of the Churchill Downs racetrack.
Visitors with general admittance tickets can wear more casual attire, with jackets and blazers optional. In some of the hospitality and dining facilities, a smart-casual code—which allows for plain jeans, sweaters and pantsuits—is typically adopted.
In many of the executive suites and lounges, the dress code is described as ‘business casual’, which prohibits sportswear, denim and flip-flops.
So, as a general rule, you should wear what feels appropriate for a day of the racing—a sport with a long history of formal, but not stuffy (for the most part), attire. This new, inclusive approach should help to ensure that horse racing remains as popular today as it has ever been.
