L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Horse Racing in Cape Town

This Cape Town horse racing event will be all about fashion, vintage cars, fine wine, food and, of course, horses

Cape Town’s social scene will soon be awakened with one of the most prestigious annual racing events, the 148th running of L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

On Saturday 10 January 2009, Kenilworth Race Course will be transformed into a setting where fashion, vintage cars, fine wine, food and the country’s finest thoroughbreds take centre stage.

Update: The winner of the 2009 L'Ormarin's Queen's Plate was Pocket Power, while second place was claimed by Dancer’s Daughter.

See the full L'Ormarins Queen's Plate programme and the line-up of horses for the main race!

Due to be one of the city’s biggest fashion events summer has to offer, ladies and gentlemen are asked to don their most elegant attire compliant with the dress code of blue and white.

Gentlemen are encouraged to wear a shirt and tie with a jacket or suit whilst ladies are encouraged to wear dresses or skirts and hats.

There will be an award for “best dressed” going to the top outfit of the day. Other competitions on the day include “best hat” and finest photography in capturing the ultimate L’Ormarins Moment.

A panel of judges will be handing out rosettes throughout the day to the top 30 entrants who will then be round up for the finals. The winners will be announced directly after the main race with the prize-giving following.

The 2009 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate will feature race favourite and one of SA’s greatest thoroughbreds – the extraordinary Pocket Power – who has won this race over the past two years and will be chasing his record-breaking third consecutive win.

Like last year, car enthusiasts can look forward to a host of beautiful, classic vintage cars, which will be on display throughout the day.

Tickets in the picnic area are priced at R30 (R10 of which goes to charity) and includes R20 betting voucher. Entrance to the premier admission are R200 (Jameson Gold Style-Lounges) and entertainment includes SA rock stars Louise Carver and Arno Carstens, jazzy house gurus Goldfish as well as local DJs such as Shaun Duvet.

Champagne Private VIP tables on the Jameson Gold deck are available. For costs and further details contact csracing@iafrica.com or 083-254 6255. Tickets available at Computicket.

Funds raised from various endeavours during the day will be donated to The Grooms School Trust and The Cart-Horse Protection Association.

L’Ormarins Queen Plate is one of South Africa’s premier horse races over 1600m and a weight-for-age contest in line with the world’s most prestigious Grade 1 events.

The historic event was first held in 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria. When she died, the race became the King’s Plate up until the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne in 1953.

To keep up-to-date with all the best events in and around Cape Town, such as the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate 2009 event, browse our Cape Town events section , and also subscribe to our Editor’s Picks Newsletter for a monthly update of the best things to do in and around Cape Town, and that’s just for starters...

Just a few days after the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate 2009 (view the official L'Ormarins Queen's Plate website) will be the highly anticipated J&B Met 2009, another well-known and popular Cape Town horse racing event.