2012 Ladies Day At Aintree

There isn’t much in the UK that can quite compare with the famous annual Ladies’ Day at the Aintree Race Festival. Ladies’ Day at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting is known as a major social and fashion event in the North West of England and it will be returning on April, Friday the 13th, 2012 with more excitement than ever. Spectacular raceday fashions will be on display in the Red Rum Garden, while amazing prizes will be available for Aintree’s most fashionable racegoers. Makeup sampling, goody bags and fashion shows are all part of the raceday experience. Ladies’ Day comes right after Liverpool Day on April 12th, which, along with the Grand National itself, provides three days of world-renowned racing and incomparable entertainment.

Last year’s fashion extravaganza was certainly something to behold! Let’s just say that some of the fashions on display leave little to the imagination. You can be left wondering ‘where on earth do you buy an outfit like that?’ Last year the ladies went all out in an amalgamation of colour with sundresses, stylish evening wear and what can only be described as Pole Dancing outfits. Elaborate hats also often make an appearance on the day and there was everything from a huge doughnut hat to hats decked in colourful feathers. Racegoers will likely be hoping for sunny weather again this year and be ready to strut their stuff at day two of the Grand National meet once more.

Come for the fashionable entertainment, stay for the races. Ladies’ Day 2012 will feature several good races. First on the card is the Top Novices’ Hurdle. This race attracts the top speedsters in the novice hurdling category and is held over an extended two miles. Second on the card is the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, which is a three mile and one furlong race. The two main horses from the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival are expected to make an appearance for their last run of the season. Last year however, an Irish horse won the race in his British debut.

Moving on up, the Grade 1 Melling Chase, run over two miles and and four furlongs, is expected to feature top National Hunt stars. Last year saw multiple Grade 1 champion Master Minded win the race over the favorite, Albertas Run. The Topham Chase is the race that gives jockeys a chance to see the Grand National fences for the first time in their 2012 form. The race is run on the shorter side of two and a half miles. The Topham Chase is notoriously tough and often only half the field makes it completely around. A novice staying hurdle is next on the card, showcasing youngsters at a distance of three miles.

As Ladies’ Day draws to an end, the final two races on the card are a handicap hurdle over two miles and, appropriately enough, the Mares’ Standard Open. The Open is a National Hunt race run on the flat at two miles and one furlong. Last year, longshot Tempest River won the race going off at 20/1.

This year’s edition of Ladies’ Day at Aintree promises to be yet another festival of interesting fashion and exciting racing. Don’t miss out on one of the best days in the UK!