Michelle Taylor from Grimsby won the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ competition at the recent Ladies’ Day meeting at Pontefract racecourse.
Michelle wore a classic white knee length sleeveless dress, which was the perfect choice for a day when the course was bathed in sunshine and the stands packed to the rafters.
However, it was the stunning hat and matching accessories which really caught the eye of the judges.
Michelle, whose hobbies include hat making, created the distinctive white circle hat, which was topped off with crystals and strawberries. A matching parasol and shoes completed the winning look.
Her prizes included an overnight stay at Rogerthorpe Manor in Pontefract and a chauffeur driven trip to Napoleons Casino. In addition she received a £100 gift voucher for Poshfrox, a meal for two at The Grange in York and a bouquet of flowers, courtesy of Ackroyds Florists.
She also had the honour of presenting the trophy to the winning connections of the fourth race on the card.
Michelle, who was among a hen party celebrating the forthcoming wedding of her niece Rebecca Hill, was one of 20 finalists who took their place in the Winners Enclosure in the keenly contested competition to find Pontefract’s best dressed lady.
The full line up was whittled down to the final three, which included in third place Anne Body of Allerton Bywater and runner up Karen Bowran of Knaresborough, who each received a selection of prizes.
However, for occasional racegoer Michelle the day was about to get even better. Having just landed the prestigious fashion prize, her selection in the fifth race, ‘Chosen One’, also romped to victory.
‘I know nothing about horses or studying the form, but having been chosen as the winner of the best dressed lady competition the name of this horse seemed totally appropriate. I couldn’t believe it when it won, but it topped off what was a fantastic day,’ said Michelle.
She now goes forward to represent Pontefract in the Grand Finale of the ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire Best Dressed Lady 2013’ competition which takes place at Doncaster on October 26th.
The prize for the overall winner is a luxury two night break in a Spa Suite with treatments included at the Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel in Doncaster, a £500 fashion voucher for Yasmine of Bawtry and Epworth and a diamond pendant to the value of £2500, courtesy of lovevintagediamonds.com.
The winner will also become the face of Go Racing in Yorkshire for 2014, which promotes racing at the county’s nine racecourses.
The next Ladies’ Day in the county takes places at Beverley Racecourse on Wednesday August 14th.
Dates of the Ladies’ Days for 2013 are:
- Thursday May 30th (Evening) – Wetherby
- Thursday, June 20th – Ripon
- Saturday, June 22nd – Redcar
- Wednesday, August 7th – Pontefract
- Wednesday, August 14th – Beverley
- Friday, August 16th (Evening) – Catterick
- Thursday, August 22nd – York
- Saturday, September 7th – Thirsk
- Thursday, September 12th – Doncaster