Day at the Races | Horse racing day out

Most people imagine a day at the races as akin to Ascot, where the ladies wear special hats, the men top hat and tails and everyone sits around quaffing champagne and nibbling smoked salmon sandwiches with the crusts cut off. OK Ladies Day at Ascot may be like that but even Ascot now restricts this mostly to the Royal Enclosure.

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The racecourse is an exciting place to spend a day at the races, and there is so much more to racing than fifteen minutes watching horses running around a field. As with anything, the more you know about it the more fun you can expect. The type of race you choose to watch has no bearing on what to expect once you are past the entrance gates, but here are a few pointers based on the most common queries about a day at the races, but remember if in doubt always phone the course direct:

Day at the Race Dress Codes:

While you are not expected to wear your best hat without exception the racetracks operate a dress code, which varies depending on the enclosure you wish to enter. The Member's or Club enclosures will usually expect men to wear a jacket and tie and women to be 'respectable'. The best course of action if you are unsure is to call the course in advance - they will appreciate the courtesy and be more than happy to help.

The thing to bear in mind when dressing, irrelevant of dress code, is to wear comfortable shoes as most of your day will be spent walking from one place to another. Also consider that you will be in the open and as the day goes on the temperature can vary from warm to cool. Stilettos and high heels of any description are a recipe for disaster.

Don't wear jeans. A day at the races is considered an elegant affair, so you won't do well to turn up in jeans and t-shirt. You don't need a top hat and tails, but you should dress smartly for the occasion if you want to fit in with the crowd and feel comfortable.

Behaviour and a Day at the Races

Money

Always bring enough money with you to last a day. As a rough guide most courses charge £12-15 for Members and Club enclosures, £10 for Tattersalls or Grandstand and Paddock and around £5 for Silver or Course enclosures. Where admitted children under the age of 16 are usually free. Don't forget to bring enough to place bets and buy additional food and drink - your picnic will not look so appetising after five hours in the car. Most courses will cash cheques but you will be charged for the priviledge.

Food

Cars are usually allowed into the Course enclosure and packing a special picnic is a good idea. Food is not generally allowed into any of the other enclosures - certainly not the Member's - but catering is provided in various forms. Alcohol is not permitted to be brought into any enclosure other than the Course and even then only while picnicking - this is not a place to bring a carload of John Smiths.

Cameras

Most courses allow photos to be taken but at no point use a flash.

Children

Nearly all courses admit children and provide varying facilities, in fact most weekends will find a bouncy castle or crèche somewhere in the grounds. Children are not allowed into certain enclosures however, especially Member's or Club. While an even can be a good family day out the best advice regarding children is to know yours - if your little darling usually gets bored after an hour, then it perhaps may be best to find a babysitter for the day.

Going Racing

Watching a horse race on a television screen or computer monitor is one thing, but it has to be said that nothing compares with attending the races in person. It's no surprise then, that race attendance is incredibly popular. With 59 courses in the UK alone, there are plenty of opportunities to go along and experience the exhilaration of a day's racing first hand. To help you get the most out of a day trip, here are some useful pointers:

Bear in mind that some forms of racing (and therefore some courses) are seasonal. As a general rule of thumb, national hunt racing is most popular in the winter months, and flat racing is more dominant in the summer. All weather tracks (Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton) tend to have regular meetings all year round.

According to the British Horseracing Board, most race courses allow children (under 16s) to accompany an adult free of charge. This can make racing a great day out for the whole family, especially when you consider that many courses provide additional entertainment during school holidays.

The enclosures at a racecourse are pretty much like the seats in a theatre. The more you pay, the better the position. In racing, the cheapest option (and the least formal) is the Silver Ring / Course / Picnic enclosure. The most expensive is the Members / Club enclosure. The Tattersalls / Grandstand enclosure is an option for those who want somewhere between the other two extremes, and allows good views of the parade ring and winners enclosure.

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