Riot of colour as punters compete in glamour stakes

A bumper crowd, swelled by better than expected weather, revelled in what has become one of the biggest fashion events on the social calendar.

There was the usual parade of flamboyant dresses, elaborate hats and heels that verged on the epic as racegoers basked in the afternoon sunshine.

The crowd was treated to another dramatic day of racing with Blue Bunting, ridden by Frankie Dettori, winning the Darley Yorkshire Oaks by a whisker from Vita Nova.

Fans’ favourite Dettori had them cheering in the grandstands with another Ebor success and delighted the crowd again with his trademark flying dismount in the winner’s enclosure.

But for much of the day the horses had to take a back seat as the ladies strutted their stuff.

The competition for the crown of best dressed woman was as fierce as ever with Brazilian-born Luciana Sperandio, who now lives in Leeds, coming out on top with her stunning Grace Kelly-inspired outfit.

As well as winning a holiday in Dubai she also gets the chance to go head-to-head with each of the other winners in Saturday’s grand finale.

One of the most eye-catching outfits was sported by Louise Poole, from York, whose floral dress contrasting pink with green drew many admiring glances from other racegoers.

“I’ve been to Ladies’ Day before but this is the first time I’ve dressed up like this,” she said.

Dawn Guibert, a York-based milliner, said Ladies’ Day is a unique occasion. “It’s fantastic to see so many women wearing hats and it’s great that people are really making an effort,” she added.

“We’re seeing a lot of 1940s influences but people are also experimenting, they’re really going for it.”