Cheltenham Festival is introducing a major change to its event in 2024 as it switched the title of its highly anticipated Ladies Day to a more gender-inclusive “Style Wednesday”.
The Festival’s Ladies Day is considered one of the country’s most treasured events of the year, inviting high-profile celebrities from around the globe to flaunt their styling prowess.
The event, which takes place on the second day of the four-day racecourse, is also attended by royals who make their own fashion statements. The Queen, Zara Tindall, and Princess Anne traditionally showed their support at the Jockey Club’s event.
In a recent twist, however, the event has been “downgraded” to include a title inclusive of both women and men. This will take place tomorrow.
Ladies Day is celebrated on the second day of the Festival
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The event has now been opened to both genders with the “Slow Fashion” awards, celebrating “vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces”.
Attendees, who traditionally plan their outfits months in advance, have mixed feelings about the update.
Cheltenham Champion Day marks the opening of the festival today on March 12, 2024, with Ladies' Day scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
The update was mentioned by the Jockey Club, who shared its excitement in a statement on X.
It read: “We're delighted to announce that the opening race on Style Wednesday at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be run as the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.”
The announcement was met with several disgruntled remarks. One X user wrote: “Style Wednesday? Gallagher Novice Hurdle? Cheltenham has totally chucked it now.”
Another person quipped: “Style Wednesday, who on earth gets paid to come up with this nonsense? Oh for the days when racing was felt worthy enough on its own.
“Style Wednesday? Jesus wept. It’s Ladies Day,” one person chimed in. A fourth commentator said: “Style Wednesday, how absolutely embarrassing. You know most of us fans like that Cheltenham is nothing like Royal Ascot?”
“I’m assuming this is some sort of woke nod from the Jockey Club to the powerful trans lobby,” Nadine Dorris explained, pointing out that the Best Dress Competition will also be ditched under the move.
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Mike and Zara Tindall have supported the events on numerous occasions
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The Jockey Club’s website explained: “We encourage all racegoers to showcase their unique and personal style and to share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family and on social media.
“The awards are open to both men and women, and we can’t wait to see the incredible fashion on display.”
It summarised Style Wednesday with the statement: “Fast horses, slow fashion. The style is timeless and the glamour matches the glory.”
It comes as a fashion expert has spoken to GB News about the best styling trick to minimise signs of ageing.