Ladies Day is here! Goodwood racegoers don daring hemlines and crop tops as they compete to stand out from the crowd on the most glamorous day of festival
- Glorious Goodwood racegoers dazzled in their finest frocks and sharpest suits on day two of the festival
- The five-day meet was held last year without any spectators – but is back with a bang for 2021
- Vintage-inspired dresses and flowing linen numbers were on display as guests arrived at the racecourse
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Glamorous racegoers did not let the threat of rain dampen their spirits as they arrived for Ladies Day at Glorious Goodwood.
Daring crop tops, intricate hats and floral frocks were all on display as revellers descended on the racecourse in Chichester, West Sussex, to take in the action of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
The five-day meet, a highlight of the racing calendar, was forced to take place behind closed doors last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
But it returned with a bang this week, with well-heeled spectators making the most of having a reason to dress up again.
Racegoers arrive ahead of day three of the Goodwood Festival at Goodwood Racecourse, Chichester, for Ladies Day, with many revellers donning bright florals to stand out from the crowd
Heely great! Another reveller added interest to her outfit with a pair of statement sandals with straps that reached up to her knees, teamed with a floral dress and cute pink handbag (left). Shrobing in style! One racegoer teamed her orange dress with a white blazer draped around her shoulders with strappy black heels (right)
Goodwood was due to welcome 5,000 racegoers through its gates on the final day last summer but those plans were scrapped by the Government a day before it was due to go ahead because of the pandemic.
Goodwood managing director Adam Waterworth said at the time that the U-turn cost the track a ‘six-figure sum’ but the cost to racing was much, much bigger.
Top of the crops! A racing fan mixed things up with a crop top and tailored trousers rather than a dress, as she stepped out with her friends in matching white sandals (left). In the pink: This dapper gentleman stood out from the crowd in floral trousers and a fuchsia blazer (right)
Hat’s the way to do it! This glamorous trio opted for millinery bedecked with flowers and varying shades of pink
Prints charming! A racegoer spiced up her outfit with leopard print heels and a matching belt – and showed off a tatto of a big cat to boot (left). Fabulous florals: This attendee proved that you can never go wrong with a pretty botanical print for the summer (right)
‘It has cost us six figures. But it was never a money-making exercise, it was about proving we could get crowds back,’ he said.
‘The loss is huge in what is already a year when there is no profit and the loss figure is getting bigger and bigger. Crowds are what we are all about.
‘Between 70 and 80 per cent of our revenue is directly due to people coming through the gates. It’s a big kick because there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel having thought we had actually done it getting crowds back.’
Waterworth revealed to Sportsmail earlier this year that the cancellation of the trial did, in fact, cost Goodwood over £250,000 and confirmed that the track lost millions from not having any racegoers in attendance throughout the whole season.
Goodwood held just 13 racedays – six less than usual – last year due to rescheduling and all went ahead without any paying punters.