Horse-based sports have long been associated with glamour and nobility, with the royal family known for being partial to a spot of polo and other high-society individuals having a penchant for sophisticated pursuits like dressage. And, if you look back into history, this affinity between the affluent and these majestic animals has been the case for centuries in some form, with kings and queens regularly getting about on horseback or via horse drawn carriage.
Owning and caring for a horse remains costly and thus, isn’t something that everyone can afford. This becomes truer if we’re talking about thoroughbred race horses, which often come with eye-watering six-figure price tags – particularly for those that are tipped for big things or that already have a coveted title or two under their belt. It stands to reason that only wealthy families and individuals tend to have them, even today – although learning to ride has become more accessible thanks to the abundance of riding schools offering up lessons to people of all levels around the world.
As for horse racing, this much-loved modern sport has a richer history behind it than you might think, but that early establishment of its association with the nobility is still very much in place. It has also become increasingly popular with high-rollers, who, as well as placing eye-watering wagers in their favourite casinos, are rather partial to a flutter on popular sites like tonybet.com, too. After all, it’s all part of the fun – and another example of how in, horse racing, there is rarely any expense spared.
Ancient history
Although horse racing is a particularly popular sport at the current time, it’s certainly nothing new. In fact it goes all the way back to ancient times, with the first race taking part in the Panhellenic Games – one of the earliest iterations of the Olympics – in Greece. But it seems the Greeks weren’t the only ones to find enjoyment in the sport, as it is also known to have become a well-loved pastime throughout the Roman and Byzantine Empires, too.
But all that time ago, the set-up was a little different, and started out with potential buyers inspecting and comparing prospects at horse markets – which would in part, involve looking at how they performed against one another. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that the finest horses money could buy began to be pitted against one another by the Royal Family, in races that would draw well-to-do guests from the aristocracy on an invitation-only basis, and thus, establishing the sport’s association with nobility.
Queen Anne’s Ascot
It’s no coincidence that the iconic Ascot racecourse is built so close to Windsor Castle – in fact, it was done so to please a member of the royal family all the way back in 1711, when Queen Anne, who was a horse racing enthusiast herself and loved the thrill of watching such events, requested the project. Although it was initially a private racecourse, it has been welcoming the public into its fields since 1813 when it was made legal by Parliament to do so, although it was earlier, around 1750, when the Jockey Club was tasked with drawing up an early version of the rules, categorisation and the competition set-up we know today.
Dressing to impress
Although the rules have been relaxed to some degree today, the original Royal Ascot event had a very strict dress code that required well-heeled attendees to pull out all the stops in pursuit of glamour and sophistication. It’s unsurprising that, as a result, the event quickly became as beloved by fashion fanatics as it was horse racing enthusiasts, with affluent guests from the nobility often sharing a love for the two.
Now, Ladies’ Day has become a highlight of the annual racing event, with female spectators turning out in their finery and pairing show-stopping formal dresses with statement fascinators and hats. And for entry into the sought-after Royal Enclosure, some of those original rules still apply, as headwear must have a diameter of at least ten centimetres and be in a matching colour to a guest’s dress – which must be at least knee length – to maintain a long upheld standard.
Similarly, gentlemen are expected to wear morning attire, comprising a formal suit with a waist coat and top hat in black, grey or navy.
Outside of the enclosure, however, things are decidedly more relaxed, although Ladies’ Day is still a spectacle to behold.
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