Racegoers have more reason to dress to impress at Warwick’s Ladies Night this year with the chance to be whisked from the catwalk to Qatar. 

A pair of return flights from Birmingham to Doha top the prizes in a new ‘Fashions-On-The-Field’ competition being held during the twilight fixture at Warwick Racecourse on Saturday, May 12.

Ladies Night is part of Warwick’s hugely popular summer carnival of racing, which has attracted new headline sponsorship for 2018 from Qatar Airways, which operates out of Birmingham Airport, and will be billed as the Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival.

Qatar Airways is also sponsoring ‘Fashions-On-The-Field’, with two economy class return flights from Birmingham to Doha being awarded to the ‘Fashions-On-The-Field Grand Champion’.

Karl Ude-Martinez will be hosting ‘Fashions-On-The-Field’ which will run alongside a ‘Best Hat’ competition, also new for this year’s Ladies Night.

Actor and television presenter Karl, who has presented on Sky Sports and Channel 5 and is from Warwick, will be co-ordinating the fashion event and acting as an advisor to the judging panel.

He said: “This year we will be looking for something a little bit different. Someone who has thoughts outside the box, dressed appropriately for the weather and something that is elegant enough for racing but has that fun feel!

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s high street, designer or bought from eBay, it’s how you put it together. That’s what fashion is all about, how you team it up, how you accessorise, we want something that stands out and looks good for racing.

“This year it’s all about block colours, the big bright colours, it’s about making bold statements.

“That’s the main thing that has come off the designer runways this season and hit the high streets – stripes and block colours. We’re sure we’re going to get a lot of people wearing bright colourful things.

“The judges will be looking for something that says ‘I’m here at the races’.”

A spa day at Ardencote Manor Hotel, an Audi TT for the weekend from Listers Audi and glamping for four at Warwick Castle are among other prizes.

Andre Klein, General Manager of Warwick Racecourse, said: “Ladies Night is one of our most popular fixtures of the season and is a great chance to experience the fun and fashion of a day at the races.

“We’re delighted to be launching the ‘Fashions-On-The-Field’ and ‘Best Hat’ competitions with some fantastic prizes which we hope will encourage even more ladies, and gents, to enter into the spirit of the occasion whilst enjoying quality racing.”

Ladies Night will also feature live music and entertainment, including a leading Robbie Williams tribute act after the last race at 8.30pm.

Gates open at 3.30pm ahead of the first of seven races at 5.30pm. Racegoers can enter ‘Fashions-On-The-Field’ and ‘Best Hat’ in the competition area, located close to the parade ring, from 5pm to 7pm. 

Judging will be followed by prize-giving, with prizes being awarded to the top three in each competition and all finalists receiving a bottle of England’s finest sparkling wine from Ridgeview.

For more information about Ladies Night, competition terms and conditions, and tickets go to www.warwickracecourse.co.uk or call 01926 405560.

 

PICTURE:Karl Ude-Martinez is pictured left with competition winners at last year’s Ladies Night.