Emirates Stakes Day 2013
Given the success of our 2012 Stakes Day experience, the kids and I couldn’t wait to go back again in 2013 – and this time we checked out the Fashion’s on the Field area and had some fun in The Precinct.
When: Saturday 8 November 2014
Where: Flemington Race Course, 448 Epsom Road, Flemington VIC 3031
Cost: General admission adult $55, children under 15 free, family pass (2 adults, 2 children 17 and under) $110. Click here for more information. There are further options for Reserved Grandstand Seating, but check the website it’s very detailed. Annual VRC membership fees start at $265, click here for more information. All children’s activities are FREE of charge.
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Review
2013 Stakes Day was a chilly affair… by mid afternoon the chill lessened and the sun even tried to peak out, but the first half of the day was wet wet wet and freezing cold. We were huddled under an umbrella when we arrived and it was squishy underfoot – I half wondered if I was completely bonkers to have even considered heading out, but I figured we had to go for at least for a little bit given the chicken sandwiches had been already made; and once the rain eased (at about 11am) it did become much more bearable… not quite the stunning sunshine we’d had the year before – but it was warm enough to ditch the coats and sit back and enjoy some chicken sandwiches and bubbles as the ponies raced past.
Our first stop when we arrived was the Fashions on the Field – where we got to watch the lovely Carla (from Styling the Tribe) and her tribe strut their stuff. Carla has shared some fantastic tips about entering FOTF, so if this is something you’re curious about be sure to check our her post here. Be warned if you haven’t pre-registered there are a few limited spaces available on the day – but you do have to queue for ages (which isn’t much fun if it’s raining as it’s outside) and aren’t necessarily assured of a spot – so register before you go (check the Carnival website for the entry form a month or so before the day).
After we watched part of the Family category (there are 5 different categories) of FOTF we checked out the Swisse experience and got some great little goodie bags.
This year our beautiful hosts invited us to join their car park spot on the Rails – so we had a glass fence between us and the horses – this was a bit of a thrill for the kids and kept them entertained for our lunch time period.
During the day we also visited the Parade Ring (next to the horse stalls) and watched the horses warming up. And we made our final stop for the day The Precinct (just near the entrance/exit to the train station) where we had lots of fun at the Silent Disco, face and hair painting, a nail bar, surfing and much more – all FREE and for the kids to enjoy!
While I felt like a total dag I decided to pack our lunch and other supplies into a granny trolley – and given we striped off a few layers as the weather improved I was actually pretty happy to be able to wheel it all along.
Read about our 2012 Stakes Day experience here.
Thank you to www.wildandmini.com for supplying Immi’s Little Horn playsuit and Charlie’s shirt and pants – they have been much loved items in our wardrobe ever since race day.
Thanks for your comment Annabel 🙂
Yes it doesn’t really compare with going without kids – but the activities for the kids are great value and it’s a bit of fun for everyone
We have taken the kids the past two years and it’s a really fun day out – obviously a bit compromised compared to race days before kids, but fun in a different way. I don’t think we will take them every year, but it’s fun to dress up in our best and do something completely different to usual weekend in tracky pants!
Love the Little Horn playsuit <3