A mixed weather forecast didn’t deter the crowds on Saturday (July 5th) evening, as thousands packed into Carlisle Racecourse to celebrate the ever-popular Caledonia Park Ladies’ Night.
The event, which boasts the only all-female racing card in the country, is a standout date in the Cumbrian social calendar. Racegoers often spend months preparing their outfits for the occasion and this year was no exception.
Among hundreds of entries in the highly anticipated Style Awards, the top prize went to local Carlisle resident Jessie Gray. Jessie wowed judges in a vintage-inspired 1950s dress and a handmade boater hat, which she had decorated herself to complement the theme of the hen party she was attending at the Durdar Road venue.
Speaking after her win - which earned her a host of prizes including a spa day at Cairndale, a Dune London gift card, and a luxury bundle from Rituals - Jessie said: “I can’t believe I’ve won, I really didn’t think I would. It took a couple of months to plan my outfit because I wanted to look nice for my best friend as we’re here for her do!”
Jessie also took home a Radley tote bag, a £100 French Connection voucher, two tickets to Ladies Day at Cheltenham Racecourse, plus much more.
While the stands sparkled with colour and style, the action on the track was equally as thrilling. Eight races saw eight different jockeys claim victory, with wins for Pippa Brown, Gina Mangan, Josephine Gordon, Poppy Scott, Joanna Mason, Freya Williams, and Elizabeth Gale.
Gale, from Penrith, rode to victory aboard Showtime Mahomes, the horse featured in the ITV documentary It’s Showtime, which tells the uplifting story of how the horse helped its syndicate of owners through personal challenges.
Meanwhile, Freya Williams claimed victory in the second annual Stable Staff Charity Race - an event that offers racing staff, who wouldn’t normally get the chance to ride competitively, the rare opportunity to race on the track, all in support of Racing Welfare.
Reflecting on the evening, Carlisle Racecourse General Manager Helen Willis said: “We had such a fantastic evening for Caledonia Park Ladies’ Night, with so much going on across the site! We’re incredibly proud to host the country’s only all-female racing card - it’s a wonderful celebration of the depth of talent within the sport.
“We’re also hugely grateful to our sponsors, Caledonia Park, who provided the amazing prizes for our Style Awards, which were so well supported.”
This year marked the first time the fixture was held on a Saturday night, having moved from its traditional slot on a Monday in August.
Carlisle Racecourse returns to action on Thursday 10th July, with several more fixtures lined up for the summer season.
