Ladies Days 2009

If you're looking for an excuse to dress up to the nines for a great day out, then racecourses offer plenty of opportunities in the shape of Ladies' Days and events. Often with great prizes to be won for Best-Dressed Lady, Best Hat, Best-Dressed Couple, etc. think Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and you might be in with a winning chance.

Of course Ladies' Days are not just for ladies; guys get to go to town with their outfits as well - either to complement their glamourous partner or perhaps to catch the eye of someone new! Many courses offer competitions for gents too, while for some events morning suits or similar smart attire are required.

Season highlights are listed below or for the quick calendar guide to Ladies' Days 2009 select one of these options:

Ladies' Days - By date order
Ladies' Days - By racecourse 

Highlights 

18 October
Ladies' Day at Naas Racecourse, Ireland

All eyes will be on the style at Naas Racecourse on Sunday 18 October, as the much anticipated Kalu Boutique Ladies' Day will take place. Celebrity judge Lorraine Keane will have her binoculars polished to spot the best outfit. The former host of TV3’s Xposé will be joined by Audrey O’Dwyer, wife of leading trainer and former Gold Cup winning jockey Conor O’Dwyer.
 
The Best Dressed Lady will receive a €1,000 voucher from Emporium Kalu in Naas. The event takes place during Naas Racecourse’s feature race day of the autumn, the Birdcatcher Day, this mixed meeting includes five Flat races and three National Hunt contests. As part of the activities during the day, former Gold Cup winner Kicking King will parade: he was the winner of a hurdle race at Naas during his illustrious career.  
 
Lorraine Keane, celebrity Ladies' Day judge is a keen racegoer and can’t wait to use her fashion expertise by doing some style spotting: “I have been racing at all the glamorous meetings in Ireland and I love both racing and fashion so when I was asked to judge the Best Dressed Lady at Naas Racecourse I was thrilled and look forward to seeing the style there on the day, I think the prize is a great incentive for the ladies to dress up and enjoy their day at the races. Kalu is a renowned outlet for high fashion and it being October I am looking for a stylish but appropriately dressed lady.”
 
Tom Ryan, Manager of Naas Racecourse is all geared up for another hugely successful renewal of the Birdcatcher meeting and expects large crowds again this year. “We traditionally get great support for this meeting with attendances of over 4,000 people. We are all looking forward to a great day out for all and to welcoming ladies from all over the country. It will be a fitting final leg of the Go Racing in Kildare Festival.

"The other news from Naas is that going forward we are offering Free Admission for under 18’s & Students. Everybody at Naas Racecourse recognises that young people are the future of racing. The Board and Management want to do everything possible to encourage young people to come racing and get involved in what is an enjoyable social day out. As always we welcome any feed back from all our racegoers, it is their comments that help us to continually improve what we offer our customers.”
 
There will be a dedicated U-18 / Student turnstile and college students are reminded that they must produce a valid student card to obtain free entry.
 
The first race off at 2.25pm, where the highlight of the day is the Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery worth €64,000. Admission for adults is €15, senior citizens €9. U–18’s and students with current student cards get free entry, so it’s the perfect family day out. 

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