After a quick spot of birding at the Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Vilis and I popped into Salvo’s to pick up some duds to wear to the Townsville Cup. No ordinary event, the Cup comes with dress rules and is one of Townsville’s premier winter sporting and social events. Horse racing is Australia’s second most popular spectator sport,¹ and the Townsville Cup event includes not only eight races, but also race-wear competitions for both men and women. Ever since Vilis read about Fashions on the Field, which was instituted as a means of attracting more women to the racetrack,¹ he’s been intrigued by the notion of linking horse racing with fashion. So today, we checked it out, driving to Cluden Park Racetrack, home of the Townsville Turf Club.

It didn’t take long to realize that although Townsville’s laid-back population is generally attired in a year-round wardrobe of casual, warm-weather clothes, this city’s residents can certainly meet the bar when it comes to a fashionable event like the Townsville Cup. The colour black was everywhere, in young men’s flashy suits and young women’s even flashier dresses. Other colours abounded, often in tight concoctions that had women tugging tops up and skirts down. A few of the dresses possessed astonishingly revealing necklines (what neck line?), but most were reminiscent of Spring Prom, a night out on the town, or the Academy Awards, with a few hearkening back to medieval times or Cinderella.

Serious race wear contestants wore contemporary or classic ensembles with matching hatwear and accessories. The most popular colours for men’s suits were black or grey, although a pair of fellows wore eye-scorching suits of yellow and orange.

In the sea of vivid humanity, the tall, springy-legged horses seemed almost incidental, although the jockeys’ shiny colours matched some of the attire worn by the crowd. The entire event was a huge splash of noise, colour, speed, and drinks carefully held by women negotiating steps in ultra-high heels. The following four collages of photos – all taken by Vilis – provide a taste of the Townsville Cup and Fashions on the Field.

Reference:

1. Amanda Cranston. From Catwalk to Racetrack. CityLife Magazine, February 2010, pp. 10-13.