The days are getting shorter, the leaves are falling and there’s no escaping the brisk, chill in the air, announcing that summer is officially over. Sure, this weekend we’re expecting fantastic weather, 25 degrees, sunny skies and no doubt there’ll be plenty of people at the beach. I however, am just not prepared to brave the 18 degree sea waters (a big wuss in other words). And as fantastic as summer is, I kinda don’t mind seeing it go, because it’s autumn in the city and that means one of my most favourite times of year has arrived – The Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Autumn Racing Carnival is a celebration of horse racing that runs over six Saturdays, beginning at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney’s west on 21 March before moving to Royal Randwick Racecourse on 11 April. The carnival is first and foremost about horse racing, but for most people, it’s less about the horses and more about fashion and socialising.
It’s an absolute guarantee that come Easter weekend, you’ll find me trackside at Royal Randwick Racecourse, with a carefully constructed new outfit, a race book full of tips and a glass of bubbly in hand.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet, as half the fun of a day at the races is the preparation that goes into it. For women, it’s all about the millinery. Do you choose a hat or a fascinator, or even given the weather, maybe even a beret? Over the years I’ve learnt the hard way that you should always pick your dress before you pick your headwear. A few years ago I bought a gorgeous hat from the milliner Neil Grigg, only to discover that I had nothing to wear it with. Probably because as someone pointed out (not very kindly) it did resemble something Johnny Depp would have worn in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Believe me, it’s not easy to match a top hat to a dress!! And to make things worse, after parting with a decent sum for the hat, on race day I had the fashion faux pas crisis of running into a lady wearing the same hat. We saw each other coming in the distance, gave a polite nod of awkwardness to each other, kept walking and then tried to avoid standing too close for the rest of the day. Make sure you have a look at the picture gallery to see what I mean, it’s a pretty un-missable hat!
You can spend a fair amount if you want to on millinery for the races and there are some gorgeous designers out there such as Nerida Winter, who will tailor a headpiece to match your dress. If you’re on a budget like me (who isn’t really) then you can’t be past the markets for style and value for money. Paddington Markets is always a winner and further down Oxford Street, the Fringe Bar Markets is another gem. Both are only held on Saturdays and my tip is to get there early.
For the men, well, it’s a lot simpler preparing for a day at the races:
• Shower - check
• Suit - check
• Polish Shoes - check
• Sunnies – check
Enough said.
This years carnival officially kicked off on 21 March at Rosehill Gardens but this weekend is when things really start to ramp up. Saturday 4 April is the running of the Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for 2 year olds. Crowds of over 30,000 are expected to converge on Rosehill Racecourse, coming from Sydney and across the nation.
The following weekend, things move over to Randwick Racecourse and being the avid racing enthusiast that I am, I’m very excited to see it roll around. A day at the races is always fun. Everyone gets dolled up in stunning and some not so stunning fashions, which is perfect as I love a bit of people watching. It’s very social and a perfect opportunity to meet and chat with new people. The prospect of winning a few dollars isn’t too shabby either.
As the day goes on, it’s hard not to notice that by the final race, a few punters are looking a tad worse for wear. So let Nanna Kate (as I’m sometimes known) share with you some words of wisdom for getting in and out of the races with dignity in tact:
• Wear sunblock – it’s autumn, it’s likely to be cloudy and a bit chilly but you’re still going to get burnt. Don’t forget to slip, slop, slap.
• Alternate water with alcohol. Drinking during the day in the sunlight is a recipe for disaster. Make sure to keep hydrated with the H2O.
• Don’t leave in bare feet. If you're like a lot of women, your feet are going to be sore after wearing heels all day, but leaving in bare feet is not a good look and a bit of a safety hazard. Why not take a medium-sized clutch and put a pair of thongs (sandals for the non-aussies) in before you leave home. Then you can leave in comfort and not have to worry about stepping on something and requiring a tetanus shot.
• One final word of wisdom - Don’t forget your brolly. It is autumn and the weather is a little unpredictable.
Have I enticed you to spend a day at the races? I hope so, it's good fun and something to try at least once. If you have a free Saturday over the next few weeks, then pull your fancy threads out of the wardrobe and join in the roar of the crowd during the Autumn Racing Carnival. To learn more about what’s planned, visit www.theraces.com.au or www.ajc.com.au
The new line is absolutely stunning! I have been so entertained by your blog, I didn't even see the link to your things you do. Keep coming up with ideas. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Retro Jordan | May 18, 2010 at 07:29 PM
dont forget the wide-brimmed hats!
Posted by: melbourne cup | September 07, 2011 at 04:56 PM