Suit Direct's favourite selection of this years horse racing events

Horse Racing by vegaseddie is licensed under CC BY 4.0

The horse racing season is well underway and if you haven’t booked a trip to the races yet, it’s the perfect time to get together with your family and friends. There are almost 60 racecourses in the UK which hold some of the biggest ticket-only racing events for couples and groups. There are several much smaller events held throughout the year too, but these are more suited to keen horse racing enthusiasts.

Racing at Royal Ascot

Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire is home to some of the finer racing events, and there’s a lot at stake for competitors with a winning prize of £6.5 million. Royal Ascot, held from 14^th to 18^th June in 2016 is hugely popular with the Royal Family, and there’s even a royal procession to open the start of each racing event.

Tickets cost from £45 for the most basic entry tickets and go all the way up to £310 for racegoers that want to splash out and watch the horse racing from the fine dining Royal Ascot Pavilion.

If you’re going to one of the fancier stands, be sure to wear one of your sharpest suits so you look the part. Royal Ascot is often described as ‘a fashion event in its own right’, so you can expect the style stakes to be high.

Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree

Everyone knows all about Aintree thanks to its most popular event – the famous annual Grand National. The race is over 170 years old and has been around since 1839. Held on 9^th April this year, the classic event witnessed people all over the nation placing bets.

The Grand National is one of the most influential events when it comes to horse racing, and is just as popular amongst non-gamblers as it is with the regulars. You can usually snap up a ticket online for as little as £25 for the Tattersalls stand and almost £100 if you want to watch in luxury from the Platinum Lounge.

You might even spot a local Liverpool celebrity at Aintree Grand National. It’s a popular event amongst the Liverpool Football Club and Everton players, who attend with their glamorous wives and girlfriends to show off their race wear as well as their partners!

So what should you wear to the Grand National? Most men go for a full suit and smart shoes, or a lightweight blazer and shirt to keep cool over the long day. The last thing you want at a full race day event is to be lugging a heavy suit jacket around all day. On cooler days a waistcoat is a must!

Glorious Goodwood Opening Saturday

Goodwood has an impressive race track for both motoring and horse racing events, and the opening event is usually held at the end of April (Saturday 30^th April for 2016). The introductory day in West Sussex is much more than just a racing event and even has its own food festival featuring locally-sourced produce and award-winning organic options from Goodwood Home Farm.

Tickets for the opening day are anywhere between £10 and £35, and there’s a selection of stylish bars, restaurants and entertainment facilities open throughout the day.

On a Tighter Budget? Try Greyhound Racing

Race days out can be pretty expensive. Greyhound racing is a more modest affair but much cheaper to attend and more of a casual event in terms of style. Nottingham Greyhound Stadium is home to some special racing events, including the Betfred Eclipse which is usually held in late November. Many stadiums offer great value package deals including entry, meals, drink and even your opening bet!

2016 Horse Racing Fixtures

Make sure you check the British Horse Racing Association (BHA) for a full list of fixtures for 2016 and take a browse through our Style Guide for some outfit inspiration.