It’s one of the largest race meetings in the world and typically attracts a crowd of fashionable revellers eager to prove they can given the Royal Ascot fashionistas a run for their money.
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is touted as the sporting and social highlight of the calendar, with five thrilling days of world-class horse racing and elegant fashion for racing to enjoy.
The festival, which is set to the backdrop of the rolling West Sussex countryside, kicks off today and early arrivals kept the glamour stakes high.
One group of ladies opted for a retro monochrome theme in matching black dresses with white petticoats for their day out at the Chichester Course.
Statement millinery was very much the order of the day as glamorous ticket holders showed off headpieces festooned with feathers and floral sprays.
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the highlights of the racing calendar and ticket holders today put their best foot forward in stylish dresses as they arrived at the course in Chichester, West Sussex
Floral fantasy! A reveller looked in full bloom in a maxi dress with cutouts at the waist and a top hat adorned with greenery and pink roses (left). Friends put on a colourful diplay with one donning a figure-hugging red dress while her companion sported a pleated yellow and pink tiered frock with a plunging neckline (right)
Bright colours were very much the popular trend with two friends brightening up an already sunny afternoon in red and orange (left). Two glamorous friends made sure they turned heads by donning ultra-bright pink and green dresses with plunging necklines for their day out in West Sussex
They must have backed a winner! Friends looked in celebratory mode as they laughed and embraced by the track at Goodwood in West Sussex
Keeping it simple! A woman opted for a pared back look in a pale pink dress and no hat, while her companion was eye-catching in polka dots and a white hat as they prepared to enjoy an afternoon at the Goodwood Festival in Sussex (left). A K9 Drugs Dogs employee awaits the influx of racegoers with a sniffer dog, after bosses implement strict new rules to crack down on antisocial behaviour (right)
Ready for action! Racing fans in the main stand were eager for the very first race of the festival to get underway and kick off Glorious Goodwood 2018 in West Sussex
Perfectly co-ordinated! A woman in a red and black floral dress matcher her studded sandals to her clutch bag and completed the look with a slick of scarlet lipstick (left). A Goodwood racegoer mixed things up by donning a little black dress teamed with strappy sandals, while her companion looked suave in a suit and Gucci belt (right)
Mixing it up! A pink-haired racegoer shunned the trend for pretty floral dresses and went for a more edgy look in black trousers and a spotted top (left). Megan Nicholls and her friend Amy Derham put on a glamorous display in form-fitting dresses teamed with elegant hats as they enjoyed an afternoon out in Sussex (right)
Racegoers today faced increased measures to crack down on disorder, after bosses introduced sniffer dogs at every meeting to detect drugs, and limited alcohol.
After a major fight broke out at the first fixture of 2018, officials decided to implement a four pint rule, meaning revellers will not be able to buy more than four drinks in any one trip to the bar.
‘We have conducted a thorough and extensive review of everything that happened at our first fixture, of our existing policies and held a detailed consultation with our Safety Advisory Group and Sussex Police, Goodwood Racecourse general manager Alex Eade told Racing UK.
Sniffer dogs were previously used at some race meetings, but they will no be on patrol at every fixture and racegoers will be encouraged to use ‘amnesty bins’ if they are carrying any drugs.
Friends gathered alongside the track to watch the action get underway on day one of the festival in Chichester. Despite the sunshine there was a bit of a breeze, prompting revellers to hold on to their hats as they made their way through the grounds
Racegoers enjoying the first day of The Qatar Goodwood Festival in Sussex, which promises to provide world-class sporting action over the coming days
Striking couple! A man co-ordinated his jacket and cravat to his female companion’s blue lace dress, which she teamed with an elegant pink hat (left). Two women in headscarves were distracted by their phones as they made their way through the Sussex course (right)
Time for a tipple! Goodwood racegoers treated themselves to glasses of rosé as they enjoyed a sunny afternoon at the Sussex course. A man peruses the pages of the Racing Post ahead of the action, no doubt hoping to pick up some tips (right)
A woman looked pictured perfect in a floral off-the-shoulder dress as she took in the action on the track (left). Revellers were in high spirits as they enjoyed the first day of the popular racing festival in sunny West Sussex
One group of ladies opted for a retro monotchrome theme in matching black dresses with white petticoats as they stepped out on day one of the Qatar Goodwood festival in Sussex
Twinning! Friends in similar red floral dresses looked deep in conversation as they prepared to enjoy the action on the track. Racegoers were eager to celebrate a sunny afternoon at Goodwood and the Pimms was flowing as the afternoon wore on
Here come the girls! Friends strolled across the grass as they prepared to enjoy the first day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival in West Sussex
A fashionable pair posed up a storm for the cameras as they showed off their elegant race day finery on a sunny afternoon in Sussex (left). Friends opted for a monochrome colour scheme and one added a statement white hat to liven up her plain black dress (right)
Hat’s off to them! Friends showed off their elaborate millinery as they mingled in the bar ahead of the racing action at the Goodwood Course in West Sussex
Pretty in pink! A woman looked striking in a pink and white fascinator, decorated with layers of delicate net (left). Another Goodwood racegoer took the floral trend to the max, in a top hat decorated with its very own mini garden
When it comes to fashion Goodwood is a lot more relaxed than the likes of Royal Ascot when it comes to the dress code, and hats are not compulsory in an of the enclosures.
The style guide suggests that those who don’t feel comfortable in millinery accessorise with a headband or beaded clip instead, to add a touch of finesse to their look.
In the Richmond Enclosure, men must wear a jacket and tie or cravat, while the same is encouraged but not essential for the Gordon Enclosure.
There’s no formal dress code for the Lennox Enclosure, but fancy dress and sleeveless tops for men are not permitted anywhere on the racecourse.
A welcome break! Friends sought out a shady spot to enjoy a snack before the action got underway at the Glorious Goodwood festival in West Sussex
Brightening up the day! A woman looked striking in a bright red dress with cut-outs at the shoulder while her friend opted for a pretty floral number and strappy sandals. While not all female racegoers wore hats, one smart gentleman decided to embrace the trend in a panama hat
After downpours hit parts of the UK yesterday, racegoers were lucky enough to experience a sunny Sussex afternoon
Sniffer dogs were on patrol to detect drugs amid a crackdown by bosses at the Chichester course
Racegoers walk past sniffer dogs who were patrolling the Sussex course today in a bid to aid a crackdown on disorderly behaviour. Bosses at the Chichester course implemented a limit on alcohol and introduced sniffer dogs after a major fight broke out earlier this year
Arriving in style! Staff held the door open for a blonde racegoer as she arrived at the Goodwood Festival in West Sussex in a red SUV, wearing a black and red patterned dress and white wedges
Well prepared Goodwood racegoers enjoyed a preliminary picnic in the car park at the Chichester course before the sporting action got underway
Goodwood racegoers flooding through the gates were met by sniffer dogs, who will now be a part of every race meeting at the Chichester Course
Don’t forget he’s on duty! A racegoer couldn’t resist petting a cute sniffer dog as she made her way into the West Sussex grounds for the Qatar Goodwood festival