Horse racing is one of the oldest sports that dates back to 700 BC in ancient Greece in the Olympic Games. Since then, the sport has evolved into a fast-paced 2-minute action that brings excitement to thousands of fans.
Since horse racing has a very rich tradition that is embedded in people’s culture, it is often considered to be much more than just a sport. Horse racing participants go through complex and difficult preparations in order to be able to participate in the race. This involves horse breeding, training, nutrition diets, and expensive equipment.
This makes the sport even more attractive for fans. Back in the olden days, horse racing events were the perfect way for rich people to show off their wealth by dressing glamorously and spending some money on betting.
Nowadays, the majority of races don’t have an official dress code or mandatory apparel, but it is still important to know what to wear if you want to go on a race track for the full race day experience.
Type of Race
It is very important to know what type of race you want to attend in order to determine what type of outfit you should wear. Most people attend the traditional Thoroughbred oval tracks that are in the Jockey Club.
Such races are all about fashion and making a statement. For example, the all-time favorite Kentucky Derby is a fashion mecca where many fashion magazines come just to get a glimpse of the flamboyant and glamourous apparel choices by spectators.
Other less popular horse races have a less formal atmosphere where you’ll be okay with just casual clothing like a Polo shirt.
What to Wear on Horse Races for Men
If we go by tradition, men’s dress codes for horse racing events seem to be stricter than women’s. Traditional horse racing events require men to wear a three-piece suit with a top hat, and some racing events even check to ensure if men are wearing socks.
Even though most races nowadays don’t have a dress code, most men typically wear a suit, or at least a collared shirt. High contrasts and colorful accents are also a great way to stand out at a horse racing event.
So, traditionally men wear a suit, a shirt, and a tie with appropriate footwear, leather belt, and socks. The choice of wearing a formal suit or collared shirt and bow tie depends on the season and the weather.
What to Wear on Horse Races for Women
We established that not all horse racing events carry the same prestige and excitement as some of the major horse racing events. However, horse races typically are socialite-type events where a lot of people come together to have a great time. This means women often come to such events with high fashion in mind. Some race tracks even organize awards for the best-dress attendees.
Although the outfit depends on the weather and the season, most women typically wear modest-length skirts or dresses rather than pants. It would be great to attend a horse racing event in heels, but if that’s not an option, flats are a comfortable go-to.
Many accessories went back in style at horse racing events such as “Derby” style hats, hand-held fans, and gloves. It would be great if you choose high-contrast prints (floral) with the traditional color scheme of spring pastels.
Some horse racing events have strict dress-code rules such as the Royal Ascot, which heavily relies on tradition. This means that women are required to wear a headpiece or hat, with no exceptions.
Final Thoughts
Horse racing is a sport with a lot of tradition that is carefully nurtured. You can click here to check out the latest horse racing results before attending any event, to keep yourself informed about the recent trends.
So, even though most racetracks don’t have strict rules on what you need to be wearing, people still want to stick to the roots of the sport and show up in traditional outfits that make the event even more exciting and fun to watch.