Video: Sunshine sets seal on glorious day for the Ladies at Wetherby

One race-going lady who was wearing a wide-brimmed hat to stop her freckles coming out said: “It’s absolutely gorgeous. There’s no excuse not to come racing at Wetherby today. I’m looking forward to a good day.”

Wetherby Racecourse chief executive Jonjo Sanderson said he was delighted at the turnaround in the weather after racing had to be abandonded due to a waterlogging only weeks ago.

He said: “Having lost our last meeting due to waterlogging only four weeks ago today has been glorious and brought out a lot of well-dressed ladies for Ladies Day. Our advanced sales are definitely up on last year and everyone seems to be having a good day. I think there are about 3,500 people who have been through the turnstiles altogether. This is my fourth year as chief executive and this is the first year we have had sunshine. We have had it all this year from frost, snow and flooding - all we had need are fire and famine now.”

Dressing one’s best at Yorkshire racecourses is a serious and expensive business, with individual winners finally getting to battle it out at Doncaster later this year. Those with the means and the will can spend thousands of pounds providing just the right accessories.