SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Over 350,000 race goers will descend upon Royal Ascot this month – one of Britain’s most popular horse racing events. However it is becoming as well known as being a famous fashion event of the sporting calendar as it is for the horseracing.
To reflect that, bookmaker Coral has created the ultimate fashion homage to the races – a designer dress inspired by jockeys’ silks.
The dress has been produced exclusively for the second day of the Royal meet by designer to the stars, Ben de Lisi. Taking inspiration from the colour blocking of jockeys’ silks, the dress took 40 hours to create and features a silk neck tie to complete the look. A household name will be wearing the unique creation to Ascot on Wednesday 17 June.
Following the race meet itself, the dress and Ben de Lisi’s original sketch will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Injured Jockeys Fund, a charity dedicated to providing care, compassion and financial support to jockeys and their families following injury.
Coral’s Nicola McGeady said: “Our jockeys’ silk inspired dress combines the best bits of a day out at Royal Ascot – fabulous fashion and legendary racing. We’re delighted to be working with Ben de Lisi again and while there may be competition in the style stakes, with his unique creation the odds are in our favour for the most stylish dress at Ascot!”
Designer de Lisi commented: “With all its glamour, there’s nothing quite like Royal Ascot and I’m delighted to have partnered with Coral again to create this jockey inspired dress. To create my design, I focused on the gorgeous colour blocking associated with jockeys’ silks and added the silk necktie as an additional tribute to racing fashion.”
Lisa Hancock, CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund, added: “To make a jockeys’ silk inspired dress for Royal Ascot is such a lovely fun idea and we are delighted that the Injured Jockeys Fund is to be the benefitting charity. With two respite and rehab centres in both the north and south to support, donations are as much needed as ever and we appreciate all the time and energy that has gone into this stunning creation.”
