Ladies Day

Thursday at The Festival is now established as Ladies Day.

This is when we celebrate the huge contribution that Ladies make to Jump racing and present the award for 'The Outstanding Contribution made by a Lady to Jump Racing.

In 2007 and 2008, this award attracted a large number of nominations from the public. Those shortlisted included ladies involved in Jump racing in many different ways, from trainers and stable staff to jockeys and charity workers. The 2007 winner was Heather Atkinson, Senior Nurse in the Jockeys’ Hospital at Cheltenham for over 30 years. In 2008 the award was shared between Ann Saunders from the Professional Jockeys Association and Lady Chicky Oaksey from the Injured Jockeys Fund.

On Ladies Day there are also awards for Best Dressed Lady, Best Accessories and Best Hat. Ladies are selected and invited to enter the fashion awards on arrival at the course and entrants are judged in a private area, away from public view. Presentations are made before the horses enter the paddock for the first race.

There are some great prizes for the fashion awards, donated by local and international companies, which range from a 4 star weekend away in Europe to hundreds of pounds worth of shopping and beauty vouchers.