Glamorous racegoers donned all their finery to descend on Epson Racecourse this morning in celebration of Ladies Day.
The first day of the Epsom Derby, which runs today and tomorrow, is getting underway as the glamorous female racegoers donned their finest frocks and hats to attend the event.
As the earliest attendees arrived, they were pastel-perfect in shades of peach and blush, as well as more neutral tones.
While some opted for fascinators to dress up their outfits, others chose less formal but still chic looks with their hair flowing in loose curls.
Ladies Day sees the best-dressed attendee crowned in The Style Awards, as the racegoers from the Grandstand and Queen’s Stand enclosures are assessed for the most show-stopping outfit.
Glamorous guests have begun to arrive at the Epsom Racecourse to attend the Investec Derby Festival
This year, with a ‘Dress to Feel your Best’ theme, the judging panel has been scrapped in favour of a public vote on Facebook to choose the winner.
Guests in the Grandstand Enclosure are encouraged to dress smartly for Ladies’ Day during the Investec Derby Festival, while ladies and gentlemen in the Queen’s Stand enclosure are asked to wear a fascinator or hat and a jacket, collar and tie respectively.
Today is the first of two days of racing at Epsom Downs, with the festival featuring quality racing and the highly-contested Style Awards.
However this year the event risks being overshadowed by animal rights group Animal Rising, which had been planning to disrupt Saturday’s Betfred Derby.
The Jockey Club was last week granted a High Court injunction against the group, which is linked to Extinction Rebellion, because it felt the group had made it ‘explicitly clear’ it intends to breach security at the Surrey racecourse to stage a disruptive protest.
Animal Rising has been given a space outside the venue to stage a protest, but one of its activists insisted yesterday she is ‘prepared to break the law’ and members of the group are ‘willing to put their body on the line’.
Peace out, Epsom! This trio larked about with each other while posing for photos and kissed their pal on the cheek
Lovely in lace! This guest looked elegant in a white lace jumpsuit which was belted at the waist, paired with a wide-brimmed fascinator
This trio of pals beamed for the camera as they cosied up to one another for a photo on Ladies Day
Best pals! These glam racegoers cuddled up to each other as they posed for photos in their white and black outfits
This attendee opted for a nude, bodycon mini dress paired with strappy sandals and a black fascinator
These pals were a pretty picture in their bright frocks which they each paired with white strappy sandals
One guest opted for bright pink florals as she donned a tulle dress with a corset and a puffed skirt
This glamorous attendee opted for a white dress clinched at the waist and strappy heeled sandals
This glamorous racegoer donned a blush dress with frills and a slit, paired with strappy sandals and a black fascinator
This glamorous racegoer opted for a red dress with a white shawl and white strappy sandals, with her hair in boho curls
A helping hand! The glam attendee asked a friend to help her tie up the straps on her white heeled sandals
Lady in red! This attendee opted for a flamenco-inspired asymmetric red dress with a frilled slit and a scarlet fascinator
Loose Women presenter and newsreader Charlene White stunned in a midi dress with a bardot neckline
A chic trio of pals donned their strappy sandals and summery dresses as they beamed for a photo
Appearing on Sky News, Claudia Penna Rojas said: ‘I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to do what’s right by these animals and try and prevent them from being harmed.’
Pressed on whether that meant resorting to breaking the law, she added: ‘If it means breaking the law, we know that law isn’t always equal to morality and we know that people have had to break laws throughout history to create the change that we need.
‘And, again, what this is about is protecting these animals. It’s about trying to create the change that we need to see where we don’t see animals as property, where we don’t see them as objects that are used for our entertainment and value them and care for them as the beings that they are.’
Nevin Truesdale, chief executive at The Jockey Club, also appeared as part of the debate, insisting it has ‘never been safer’ for horses
Addressing the protests, he said: ‘That’s for the police and the courts to decide and the court says where we will end up because there is an injunction in place, they will be in contempt of court and therefore it is illegal.’
He added: ‘We love these equine athletes, these superstars who get fantastic care behind the scenes. “99.8% of horses come back from their races perfectly safe and sound.
‘As an industry, we’ve spent £40 million on welfare over the last 20 years.’
Ms Penna Rojas said protesters will not run in front of a live race, adding: ‘Their welfare, the welfare of the jockeys, the welfare of the people there is absolutely our priority.’
Meanwhile, jockey Frankie Dettori told BBC Breakfast he hopes things will be ‘smooth’ and the event passes off without anyone being put in danger.
He said: ‘Let’s hope that protesters don’t impede this kind of beautiful event.’
The Jockey Club officials fear the protest will endanger participants, racegoers and horses, though they do not dismiss the right to peaceful protest and have offered Animal Rising an area near the racecourse’s entrance to demonstrate.
The injunction, granted by High Court judge Sir Anthony Mann, bans people from going on to the racetrack and carrying out other acts with the intention and/or effect of disrupting the races.
The acts include intentionally causing objects to enter the racetrack, entering the parade ring, entering and/or remaining on the horses’ route to the parade ring and to the racetrack without authorisation and intentionally endangering any person at Epsom Downs racecourse during the two-day event.
Those breaching the court order may be subject to contempt of court proceedings and fined or jailed.
