Horses a sideline attraction as fashion is the focus
From early morning, there were traffic jams snaking along every road from Ballybrit — which was baffling because, given the chance, most of the hats on show could have flown to the track themselves and taken a few passengers with them.
When everyone came through the gates, they had amounted to an all-time record attendance of 48,120 minus the politicians, but including the likes of Westlife’s Shane Filan, David O’Leary and Kevin Moran.
Skulking around the course, the judging panel was trying to stay focused on the feature competition with an emphasis on the glamorous but practical, according to judge PJ Gibbons.
“There are always the fashion consternations with these things hanging off their heads, but besides those, it has all gone quite professional,” he said.
“I am quite sure some of the girls are getting advice from sisters or friends in the fashion industry.
“We were not looking for girls who look great but are going around in agony for the day. A big thing is how comfortable and casual the outfit is for the day that it is,” he said.
His thoughts rang true in the case of the best dressed runner-up Shelley Smith who used her own arranging skills to rival the work of famous designers.
After selecting an outfit from Debenhams, matching up the accessories and wearing a hat borrowed from a friend of her mother’s, Shelley’s 5am trip from Wicklow nearly proved in vain when she was denied access to the judging panel.
“I was standing at the gate of the arena but they wouldn’t let me in because you have to have a pass,” she said.
“I was about to head home only some girl came out and gave me hers and I got in.”
All about the track, it was clear that there very few people were keeping their thoughts on equine affairs with fashion taking centre stage.
In fact, the entire event had all the hallmarks of a morning, and in some cases a month, of extraordinary effort.
Galway hairdresser Jason Doherty spent weeks preparing the winning hat with fresh flowers and artificial hair crowning an extraordinary looking headpiece that sat on French student Marie Blom.
He said: “I spent the last few weeks getting it together, getting everything ready. It was a long night last night.”
While Jason was still celebrating the win, the clock struck six and the spell wore off to give way to the gravelled exit and Galway’s great leveller.
Regardless of their aspirations for Royal Ascot or the Ballina Horse Fair, the ladies turned for home with haggard hair and plastered feet displaying a painful dedication to perfection that us men should appreciate far more than the polished product.
I am an all too human male and after spending three days getting nowhere with tips I got put off by an attraction that is spelt very similar, sadly I was in too much of a daze to make the betting ring in time.
With blinkers on I made my way through the crowd to stake my money on Charlie Swan’s good record so far this week, the horse started the sprint for the line a bit late but had time enough to give me a good place return for €37.
I honestly did not realise how inappropriate this name was for the day that was in it until afterwards by which time John Oxx’s well backed charge could not do enough to give me a return.
The favourite, and all indications were this was a banker but alas only a place and a poor return given the price.
I will not be buying rounds on the strength of this one.
5.10 Teutonic Prince.
5.40 Elusive Dream (nap).
6.15 Euro Leader.
6.50 Hitchcock.
7.25 Rajeh (n.b).
7.55 Cabo.
8.30 Ferneley.
