It’s one of the most prestigious race meetings on the British calendar – hosting even the King and Queen tomorrow – but today, glamorous racegoers proved the Epsom Derby festival is equally about the fashion as it is about the horses.

Cheery revellers stepped into the weekend in style as they attended Ladies Day, sporting fancy fascinators adorned with feathers and decadent bows, risqué hemlines and skyscraper heels.

They were joined by a host of celebrities – including Lottie Moss, who opted for a floral number, and equally radiant TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins.

Ladies Day features the third Classic race of the season, The Betfred Oaks, but is also a chance for racegoers to showcase their style.

The ensembles on show at the Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Derby Festival were as daring as ever, with low-scooped corset style tops on display alongside racy thigh splits. 

Others dressed for the occasion with bright and vibrant hats, oozing glitz in a bid to be crowned best dressed. 

Lottie Moss joins The Jockey Club at Epsom Downs Racecourse for Ladies Day at The Betfred Derby Festival 2026

A vision in red! Charlotte Hawkins joins the Jockey Club at Epsom Down

Strike a pose! Glamorous racegoers stepped into the weekend in style as they descended on Epsom racecourse for Ladies Day

Strike a pose! The event is a chance for revellers to show off their style, and several were racegoers were determined to show off their style prowess

Here come the girls! Despite cloudy skies, revellers at the Epsom Derby dressed to impress in bright and bold frocks and fascinators 

Cheers to the weekend! Derby revellers have derssed to impress today

A moment for the glamour! An statement fascinator is a staple for Ladies Day, and one reveller certainly didn’t hold back with

Say cheese! Three joyful attendees take a moment to rest their feet among the celebrations

Horsing around! Excited revelers pose with an entertainer riding a motorised horse ahead of the Betfred Oaks

Here come the girls! Spirits were high in Epsom as the weekend celebrations kicked off 

Strike a pose! Derby revellers dressed for the occasion with bright and vibrant hats

Monochrome magic: One glamorous attendee opted for a thigh-skimming gown and striking white fascinator 

Going for glamour: One excited racegoer showcases her dyed hair and bold outfit choice for Ladies Day

Bottom’s up! One reveller enjoyed her drink while taking a brief moment to sit down ahead of the races 

Dress to impress! One reveller opted for a carefully crafted frock and fabulous hat 

Women donned their finest frocks and fabulous hats as they descended on the racecourse to kickstart the weekend with a day of festivities.

Pink proved a popular choice, with shades of blush, berry and vibrant fuchsia all on display in the early Surrey sunshine.

Several in flirty frocks and statement jumpsuits arrived in their dozens for the event – a mainstay in Britain’s racing and social calendar.

Many got stuck into the party spirit early, knocking back glasses of Pimms and glasses of Champagne from mini bottles of Moet.

Ladies Day sees the best-dressed attendee crowned in The Style Awards, as the racegoers from the Grandstand and Queen’s Stand enclosures are assessed for the most show-stopping outfit. 

It also features the third Classic race of the season, The Betfred Oaks. This highly-anticipated race day is also a chance for racegoers to showcase their style, with colourful dresses, wide-brimmed hats and fancy fascinators.

The website calls Ladies’ Day ‘a spectacular, gleeful celebratory day where people come together to join in racing’s most spectacular carnival’.

Strike a pose! Amanda Davies stuns in yellow for Ladies Day

Day off the farm! Harriet Cowan swaps her wellies for high heels 

A vision of sophistication – Anna Whitehouse opted for a glamorous green number as she prepared for the races 

Floral star! Sarah Parker arrives at Epsom Downs for a day of racing

Bottom’s up! One reveller wastes no time and enjoys a pint for the races 

Relaxation station! Glamorous revellers put their feet up ahead of the races 

Keeping things practical! One savvy racegoer opted for a bottle of wine in her bag 

Feeling festive: revellers linked arms as they arrived in their masses for the all-important event 

Bottoms up! Spirits were high on Ladies Day despite the bleak weather

A moment of glamour! One racegoer opts for a show-stopping monochrome look for the highly-anticipated event 

Strike a pose! Donning an entire rainbow of bright colours, revellers rain for the opening day of the two-day festival

Waiting for the mane event: excited guests eagerly anticipated the start of the races

Hundreds turned out for the event, which has been held at Epsom Downs since 1780

With an incredible prize pot of £1.5million, the race lasts one-and-a-half miles.

The owner normally receives about 75 per cent of a race’s prize money, while the remaining 25 per cent is generally split between the trainer (10 per cent), the jockey (10 per cent) and then the final 5 per cent to stable staff and racing charities.

Cheltenham Racing Festival, which takes place in March, has taken the decision to rename ‘Ladies’ Day’ as ‘Style Wednesday’ to encourage both men and women to take part in the fashion competition.

The Jockey Club, which runs 15 courses across the UK, also ditched the Best Dressed competition.

Instead, the day now includes the Slow Fashion awards, open to both men and women, which ‘celebrates vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces’.

Selfie time! Three attendees wearing decorative fascinators captured the moment amid the celebrations 

Looking glam! Groups of revellers descend on the annual festivities 

A helping hand! One racegoer helps a friend adjust her fascinator ahead of the main event 

Tickled pink! Scarlett Keates and Ally Keating coordinate as they make a glamorous arrival

Comfort is key! One reveller opted for sandals over heels for the all-day affair

Say cheese! Ladies Day featured two male attendees who beamed for the annual event 

Fun in the sun! One group of glamorous racegoers enjoy the brief moment of sunshine 

A moment for the blue! One reveller accidentally coordinates her outfit with the decoration of the event 

The owner normally receives about 75 per cent of a race’s prize money, while the remaining 25 per cent is generally split between the trainer (10 per cent), the jockey (10 per cent) and then the final 5 per cent to stable staff and racing charities.

While all eyes are on the runners and riders of the day, the competition also provides the opportunity for the ladies attending to fight it out for who is best dressed on the other side of the fence.

Epsom organisers describe the Derby as the ‘world’s greatest flat race’.

In the past, the event has been attended by a flurry of royals, including the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and Queen Camilla in attendance.

Held at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, the Derby was first run in 1780.

It is Britain’s richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics – the other four of which are the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks, and the St Leger Stakes.