Aintree's famous Ladies Day may have been scrapped today but the annual Style Award for glamorous race fans is still going ahead - online.
And Aintree bosses have also announced ten thousand NHS and social care workers will be given free tickets for the opening day of next year’s Grand National Festival.
This three day race meeting, which was due to start yesterday, was cancelled because of the Covid-19 outbreak and the usually packed stands were deserted.
Thousands of glamorous punters would have attended Liverpool’s famous Ladies Day today after spending months planning their outfits.
Race organisers do not want all that effort to have been wasted, so they have announced an online version of Aintree’s prestigious Style Award.
They have encouraged ‘virtual racegoers’ all over the UK to dress up in their best raceday outfits to enter the competition, billed as ‘A Grand Day In’.
Entrants can either submit a photograph of themselves, or simply have their clothing laid out and ready to wear, via the Ladies Day Facebook event page.
The Best Dressed Male and Best Dressed Female, who will be revealed on Monday, will win free hospitality packages for the 2021 Randox Health Grand National Ladies Day.
Dickon White, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses North West, said: “Our Ladies’ Day is one of the highlights of the calendar for the people of Liverpool and the North West and there is always a fantastic atmosphere.
“While we’re disappointed that we can’t be there in person this year we’re determined to do all we can to lift people’s spirits and put a smile on people’s faces.”
The Jockey Club also announced the first day of the 2021 festival would be renamed Liverpool’s NHS Day, with thousands of tickets donated to NHS and professional carers in Merseyside.
Dickon White added: “We’re delighted to donate 10,000 tickets to the NHS and professional carers across Merseyside.
“We understand just how hard the NHS and professional carers are working right now and this is our way of showing our gratitude.
“The ticket process and distribution will begin at the start of next year and we’ll be working with the relevant organisations to ensure those who should benefit from the initiative are included.”
