There are few more popular sights in the world of racing than all sorts of hats being found at the major meetings of the season.
It has been most common at British racing events throughout history, with top hats evident from early images of both Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby.
That is something that has been followed in U.S. horse racing, with headwear being of greater importance when putting an outfit together for the Kentucky Derby in this modern day.
It is also worth noting that the roots of the American Triple Crown itself can be dated back to the British race staged annually in June. However, it is also noted that the history of hats in American racing is also traced back to the sport in France.
Birth of the Kentucky Derby
Nowadays, the Kentucky Derby is the most important race on the American schedule, as horses aged three compete in the opening leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs.
However, the founder of the race and the track only came up with the idea of the race following a trip to England in the 1870s. Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr attended racing during his trip to Europe, and was fascinated by the way that people dressed at the event, as well as the action taking place on track.
A key part of any outfit for those that attended racing in Europe was headwear, with stylish top hats worn by male visitors and exuberant fascinators opted by the female visitors.
You can find more information about the Derby here: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/results/
Campaigning Mission
After returning to the States, Clark Jr and his wife began a campaigning mission to raise excitement ahead of major races at the track. Clark’s wife would be dressed to the nines in her finest outfits to showcase what visitors are expected to look like when passing through the gates at Churchill Downs.
The emphasis in the early history of the Derby was to attract an upper class-feeling to the event, meaning dressing in your finest outfits was the order of the day.
It would be fair to say that the campaigning worked for the husband and wife team, as over 10,000 fans packed into Churchill Downs for the inaugural running of the Derby, with each dressed as elegant as the next. Women were dressed in coordinated dresses and hats, with bags and shoes to match.
It was during this first hosting of the race that the base for the future of the Derby was set, as it was quickly seen as the social event on the calendar in the local area. Fashion was at the heart of its success, playing the central role to enable visitors to feel as though they are attending a ball or a cocktail party.
Hats at the Derby
Hats were a focal point of outfits at the first staging of the Derby, and that would continue for the generations to come. The headwear would get bigger and bigger over the coming years, as visitors looked to standout from the crowd.
The advanced television audience in future years only accelerated this, as women would look to get a hat that would see them standout from the crown and be seen by international audiences at their glamorous best. The success of hats at the Derby has continued into this modern era, with the emphasis not only being on size in this modern day, but also colour.
Nowadays, the Derby backdrop is full of all colours from the rainbow, with each visitor adopting their outfit to the piece of headwear that they have selected for the day at the racing.
That doesn’t look set to change in the near future either, as fashion is playing an important role in the growth of the sport, and capturing the attention of the mainstream audience.
How to Find the Perfect Hat
Visitors that are attending the Derby typically spend months putting together their outfits for the big day, and one of their biggest decisions surrounds the headwear that they will don.
Finding the perfect hat can take years, as it includes finding the style that suits your face and head size, meaning that many endure trial and error for a prolonged period. Those with a wide face will likely avoid narrow crowns, while they will prefer a style that is wider.
Petite faces typically don’t suit hats that are overpowering as they can look heavy. Selecting the correct colour is also testing for newcomers, as they will need to find the right shade that suits their hair colour, as well as the outfit that they will be wearing at Churchill Downs. Many shops allow buyers to try on their hats before purchase, while modifications can also be made to ensure that the hat is as tight or loose as you wish.
