Fashionistas, famous trainers and fans are rejoicing at the chance to enjoy a day at the races with their fellow Canberrans in the autumn sun on Sunday and Monday at the city's biggest race event.
Black Opal race organisers have secured an exemption to host 3000 people on each day of the two-day carnival, about half the usual number of punters who make it to Thoroughbred Park.
The Black Opal Stakes, set to to be run at 5.10pm today, was sold out, but tickets were still available for the family-friendly Canberra Cup on Monday.
Radio presenter and long-time racing ambassador Kristen Davidson would again host and judge fashions on the field and was looking forward to both the event and the chance for a day out.
This year would be a bit different for Mrs Davidson, who was busy juggling both work and her six-month-old, Hugo.
"The juggle is real. There are so many events like the barrier draw and then the media calls and so I've actually had my parents travel from Dubbo, just so I have a little bit of flexibility," she said.
Mrs Davidson announced her pregnancy right before last year's racing event, to avoid questions about her baby bump on the day.
"I was trying to hide it, to be honest. I was around the 20-week mark, but I couldn't fit into my dress that I was wearing and when I did you could totally see it," she said.
"It was the day before Black Opal and I felt like I had to tell everyone, but it was actually really special."
This year, Mrs Davidson planned to wear a bright floral ensemble crafted completely by local Canberra designers.
"I was really passionate this year that my outfit would be very Canberra. So I had a local dressmaker and designer, Gloria Grady, make me a jumpsuit and I had a local milliner make me a beautiful hat to go with it," she said.
Submissions for fashions on the field were launched virtually this year, with the top 10 finalists to walk the stage. The event will run from 2pm today.
"The prizes are absolutely huge. There is almost $6000 in a whole range of prizes, so its definitely worth it, hence why we had so many interstate contestants enter," Ms Davidson said.
Mrs Davidson said colour and heavier fabrics were on trend this year. "We're coming into the cooler months so for Fashions on the Field we are looking for still those beautiful, bold, bright colours," she said.
"The big sleeve is still really in at the moment, but we are looking for the use of felts and leathers and fur as we move into the cooler months."
A day at the races was another exciting step towards returning to normal after the pandemic forced events to shut down, Mrs Davidson said.
"A glass of champagne, the races, the fashion, it is going to be the best of Canberra, and Canberra coming together again in this post-COVID world is really exciting," she said.
"It has a new meaning this year. I think people will walk through the turnstiles and be very glad to be able to spend time together face-to-face and not over Zoom."
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