Hot on the heels of this year’s four-day Ebor Festival which welcomed its royal patron, Queen Camilla, on the opening day, we look back at some of the stunning fashion statements captured at the races over the years.
Some of the most memorable have been at the ever-popular Ladies Day - a highlight of the racing fixture as it offers a chance to pair the thrill of racing with striking style, dramatic millinery and plenty of personality.
Recommended reads:
Can you spot yourself in these GCSE results day photos from 2015 to 2025?
Leeds Festival weather memories as rain forecast for 2026 event
Our archive photographs show no shortage of colour, confidence and creativity. Over the years, face goers have arrived in flowing gowns, bold prints and sharply tailored outfits, often topped with towering fascinators, floral headpieces and hats designed to turn heads in the crowds.
Some ensembles are elegant and understated; others are gloriously extravagant, reflecting the enduring appeal of Ebor and Ladies Day, where fashion is every bit as much a talking point as the action on the track.
Attendance was up by three per cent on last year with 27,000 people passing through the turnstiles on the final day of the meeting as the sun shone.
The four days saw a record 459 runners declared with an average field size over 16, competing for a record investment in prize money approaching £7.5m across the Ebor Festival.
Chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby thanked everyone who supported the meeting, acknowledging that the economic backdrop remained "a challenge in many households".
If you love delving into York’s past and seeing photos and reading stories from yesteryear then make sure you check The Press every day for its regular nostalgia stories.
And don’t miss our eight-page nostalgia supplement every Wednesday in the paper.
We also have more than 3,000 members in our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York - Memories. It is free to join and you will find us at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia/.
Share