Jumping clinic with international show jumper Laura Kennedy
Saturday 16 November 2024
Horse racing is one of the biggest and best sports in the world. The first Horse Race festival I ever attended was Cheltenham, it was on St. Paddy’s weekend and my friends and I went and had a massive celebration with other Irish people and had a massive party while being able to bet on horses which is always a good time. Before I went to Cheltenham I wasn't the biggest horse racing fan and I used the weeks leading up to the festival to spend learning about the race. This is what I want to help people prepare for Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby so you can have the best time possible.
The Royal Ascot is a British pillar for sport; the event is surrounded by culture, with celebrities and the Royals often attending. This is not the event for the people who don't care for the racing and just want to get drunk and party. This is the event for people who want to dress nice and be able to bet and of course, you can drink and get drunk and be surrounded by other people who feel the same but aren't just for this reason.
As we mentioned before, fashion is a key part of this, so looking nice has got to be the biggest priority for an attendee. A nice suit for the guys and a nice dress with maybe a hat for the girls should be good enough. Now after the outfit is sorted, you need to look at the races. We understand a lot of the people who go to the races are there betting on horse racing, so making yourself familiar with some of the horses that are racing and finding the best odds gives you the chance to make as much money as possible. When I went to the Royal Ascot, and the Epsom Derby for that matter, I realized that the people who go, go for fashion as much as the racing itself. Dressing well is a key factor and something you need to make sure you do.
Epsom is a very old race, with the first one taking place in 1780. This makes it one of the biggest, and oldest, in the world and makes the actual popularity it has even more impressive. The Epsom Derby is known for its unique shape with the course being built in the shape of a horse racing shoe. Usually every year around 100,000 people attend the race and use this as a chance to look smart and dress well. This is another festival that is filled with celebs and Royals and requires the biggest horse racing fans to attend. Every year the best-dressed Lady that attends gets a prize of €5,800 so make sure you dress well if you attend.
The prep for both festivals will be similar. Make sure to dress nicely, and always keep your ankles covered with socks. Wear a nice suit, a nice dress, and a nice hat if you have one. Make sure the dress isn't strapless and is fully covering you at all times. Don't wear any trainers or chinos or jeans and make sure to respect the traditions horse racing festivals have and don't be disrespectful to the culture you are in. Also, similarly to The Royal Ascot, make sure you are familiar with the horses and their odds. If you go into such a big horse racing festival with minimal knowledge then you won't be able to do well and you won't win and if you don't want to win you are less likely to have a good time. If you do go to these festivals, make sure you have a good time and respect the tradition of the festival you attend. If you do get drunk, bet responsibly and hopefully you will come home with some good money won.
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