We are in full swing into the National Hunt Racing Season, with lots of exciting fixtures to come over the next few months both at home and abroad, and along with the thrill and excitement of jumps racing, the fashion is always in focus in and out of the parade ring.
As one of the foremost fixtures in January, Thyestes Day at Gowran Park has grown from strength to strength in the past few years, with racegoers travelling from all over the country for the ‘Race that stops a county’. With both RTE Sport and Racing TV broadcasting live from the raceday, there’s even more of a reason to dust off the fedoras and get the good coat out, especially on the off chance that one might end up on the telly.
But what does one wear racing in January, or even February or March for that matter? With summer racing dominated by fancy frocks and fascinators, dressing appropriately is key for your winter racing outfits. Whether you’re hitting Gowran for Thyestes Day in January, or Red Mills Day in February, or heading across the water for Cheltenham in March, the likelihood is it’s going to be brass monkeys.
Bear in mind that if you want to really experience the thrill of your horse thundering past the post in first place, you’re going to be outdoors quite a bit. In addition, you’ll be on your feet standing in the one spot in the fresh January air.
Layers are your best friend here. Whatever your outfit is on the day, the option to peel off a layer as you move from the parade ring to the lounge. Accessories are a big part of this – think scarves, hats, gloves – all providing an extra bit of warmth that can easily be removed in a jiffy if needed.
For the ladies
Our top 3 key pieces would have to be:
1. A long warm dressy coat
2. A stylish but practical pair of boots
3. A hat – ideally in a fedora style
We’ve chosen a few of our favourites from Red Mills at Cillin Hill in Kilkenny – rooted in Equine history for their success at feeding some of the world’s most elite racehorses, Red Mills opened their flagship store at Cillin Hill in 2017 and have arguably the finest selection of racing appropriate ladies and menswear in the country. With exclusive brands such as Fairfax & Favor, Schoffel, Le Chameau and Barbour, shoppers travel from up and down the country to browse this unique mix of lifestyle brands.
Coats:
Hats:
Boots:
For the men
Things are inevitably more straightforward and we recommend just two essential wardrobe pieces for a day at the track.
1. The trusty overcoat. Tweed is very on point, but wool or wax will also do.
2. A smart hat will keep the rain off and the sun out of your eyes
Red Mills have amassed a gorgeous selection of menswear and count some of the top trainers and jockeys around as regular customers. With this in mind we selected our favourites from their menswear, which are racing appropriate and will keep you looking in top form.
Visit our Racing Style Collection for more product options.
