BOOK up the beauty salons, get out the dresses and the fascinators – fashion and finery collide in the social highlight of the season in East Yorkshire, The Journal Ladies’ Day at Beverley Racecourse, and tickets are still available.
Kicking off a two-day meeting on the Westwood, which begins on Wednesday, August 14, and continues on Thursday, August 15, there’s brilliant action both on and off the track.
This year’s The Journal Ladies’ Day is promising to be bigger and smarter than ever. Beverley Chief Executive Sally Iggulden says: “We are rightfully proud of the amazing day out that The Journal Ladies’ Day provides, but this year we are redressing it as a Summer Garden Party.
“We have added new zoned areas to provide something for everyone including a new laid back area called the Lavender Lawn, and an English Country Garden. It’s going to be our smartest The Journal Ladies’ Day yet!”
A seven race programme on Wednesday begins with The Journal Classified Claiming Stakes. Also featured from the Mail News & Media stable are The Hull Daily Mail/British Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes, the East Riding Mail Maiden Auction Stakes, the Beverley Advertiser Handicap Stakes and the Property Guide Handicap Stakes.
Rawfield UK Ltd., building contractors of Hornsea, return once more to support a contest for sprinters over five furlongs, with Paragon Data, while the Wold Construction Brian And Ian Memorial Handicap Stakes is a race for three-year-olds and upwards over a mile and a quarter – the feature of the afternoon.
But, of course, the racing action is only part of the attraction.
Throughout the day, a team of five judges will be scouring the racecourse in search of contestants for the titles of Best Dressed Lady, Best Dressed Gentleman and Best Hat.
The lucky winner of this year’s Best Dressed Lady will pick up a raft of brilliant prizes – with a year’s hairdressing services worth up to £1,000 from one of Unique’s three salons in Beverley, Cottingham and Hessle, together with £250 worth of Wella Hair products just the opener.
In addition, KP Club in Kilnwick Percy are offering the winner a two night stay, including breakfast, in their brand new luxury hotel-style suite ‘The Huxtable’, a two-course meal in the KP Club’s Glasshouse Restaurant and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne on arrival.
And that’s not all. The winner will also enjoy Sunday Lunch for two in the Vale of York restaurant with stunning views over the Wolds. A complimentary Molton Brown gift pack, a round of golf and buggy, and in-room pampering treatment round off a quite stunning prize package.
The crowning glory of any race day outfit is a beautiful hat and this year’s prize for the best headwear will win a bespoke hat made to the winner’s exclusive design by milliner Sharon Watts from Whatahat.co.uk
Last, but by no means least, all the winners will be presented with a stunning bouquet courtesy of The Floral Lounge at The Glasshouse and a bottle of champagne from GCG Events, caterers to the racecourse.
The winner of the Best Dressed Lady competition will represent Beverley in the Grand Final of ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire Best Dressed Lady for 2013’, staged at Doncaster on Racing Post Trophy Day, Saturday, October 26.
Back on the track on Thursday, a seven-race card climaxes with the White Rose Saddlery Amateur Riders’ Handicap Stakes at 5.50pm. The Malton shop, run by master saddler Wendy Hoggard, has a ‘satellite’ outlet at Beverley situated close to the weighing room.
The feature race of the day is the Racing UK iCard For Today’s Racing Handicap Stakes over two miles for horses aged three and upwards.
Racing on the Westwood begins at 2.10pm on The Journal Ladies’ Day and at 2.30pm on Thursday. Tickets are still available for both meetings – call 01482 867488 to book, or log on to www.beverley-racecourse.co.uk