National hunt racing - or jumps racing - is a thrilling sport, and a real spectacle. The magnificent horses, the roar of the crowds and the occasion all add to the excitement of a day at the jumps races. Now, if you're heading to the races this national hunt season - perhaps you're attending the Cheltenham November Meet or the Gold Cup at Newbury - then having a go-to outfit that will keep you warm, dry, and looking the part is essential. In this style guide, I've pulled together some of the key pieces from our collection that I highly recommend for a day's racing this season.
Tweed!
Warm, versatile, and easy to style, tweed is a longtime staple of the national hunt meet. You really can't go wrong with a tweed jacket and skirt combo, especially if you're in need of a smart but practical outfit for a premier race day. Alternatively, a tweed jacket paired with dark jeans can also work nicely.
I can highly recommend the Heyford tweed jacket and the Adderbury tweed skirt by English Nettle if you're looking for a smart, versatile, warm tweed outfit to wear this jumps season. The heritage green tweed is made with British wool, and the contrast trim and embellishments give these pieces a unique and contemporary edge.
A Leather Belt
To add the finishing touch to your tweed, a handmade bridle leather belt is essential. Our range of handmade British bridle leather belts by Filly & Fox come in a range of earthy colours and two beautiful designs. The Shackle is an equestrian belt with a stunning, statement horse bit centrepiece - the perfect fit for a raceday outfit. Meanwhile, the Skinny is a versatile leather belt that pairs wonderfully with jeans or tweed.
These pieces are available on a pre-order basis, with a lead time of roughly 6-8 weeks. If you want one of these in time for the Cheltenham Festival, please aim to place your order by the end of January (exact deadline TBC).
Feather Accessories
National hunt racing has deep ties to the British countryside and rural living. The November Cheltenham meet even hosts a Countryside Day on the Saturday, a celebration of rural traditions and heritage.
Real, locally-sourced game bird feathers make a really unique and authentic jumps racing outfit accessory. Whether they're pinned to your lapel, adorning your fedora, or clipped to your long boots, feather accessories lend a touch of sophistication and flair to your jumps racing outfit.
We stock a trio of beautiful feather accessories at Harradine's Country, all of which are handmade in the UK using locally sourced feathers. The feather brooch pin and feather hat pin by Fine Feathers Design, along with the feather boot tassels by My Fancy Feathers, are easy to wear and work well with your tweed outfit, or a tweed jacket and jeans.
Warm socks
Unless you're keeping warm in the hospitality suite, or the owners and trainers lounge, you're probably going to be exposed to the elements for most of your day. So, a cosy pair of socks is essential if you're heading off to the races this national hunt season. I recommend the undyed alpaca wool socks by Pairs for comfortable socks that will keep your toes warm and your feet comfortable all day. These socks are fine enough to fit under your long country boots, but they're also super soft, warm, and perfect for when you're on your feet.
Jumps Racing Style Tips
From my five years' experience of attending national hunt meets up and down the UK, here's some of my top tips for choosing your raceday outfit:
- Dress for the weather - you may want to leave the fedora at home if it's going to be windy!
- Comfort comes first - it's cold, it's probably wet, and you're probably going to be on your feet most of the day. Always pick an outfit that can accommodate this. Otherwise, you can end up feeling distracted by the cold, the wet, and your aching feet when you really want to enjoy the racing.
- Check the dress codes - most race courses have relaxed their dress codes, but this depends on the individual course, enclosure, and meet.
- Be yourself - don't wear something just because you think it's what everyone else is doing. Everyone has their own unique style, so don't be afraid to express that in your choice of jumps racing attire.