The Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival, which was long known as Ladies Day, was re-named Style Wednesday by The Jockey Club in 2024. While racegoers attending the Festival are always dressed to impress, day two at Prestbury Park encourages those heading to the iconic racecourse to wear their very smartest attire. Yet, with times and attitudes changing, the naming - which hadn't been marketed as such since 2018 - underwent a firm shift in 2024 when Festival Wednesday, the name of day two in 2023, was officially dubbed Style Wednesday. The new move by organisers hoped to loosen the dress code and become gender-neutral, 'accessible' and 'inclusive' on the back of the change - with jackets and ties no longer required and jeans and trainers on the agenda. "This year we re-launched day two of the festival as Style Wednesday to celebrate 'fast horses, slow fashion', encouraging racegoers to make more sustainable fashion choices," a spokesperson of the course stated in 2024. "Showcasing their unique and personal style, and to share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family and on social media. "This includes re-wearing outfits they already have in their wardrobes, purchasing timeless garments to wear again and again and also buying from retailers specialising in pre-loved clothing." While the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the pick of the action on the track, away from it, the Style Wednesday Slow Fashion Awards take place. This competition opens at 10:30am and lasts until 2:30pm on day two - and sees participants, donning their outfits, have their photo taken in The Plaza. Judges then decide on a winner, and this year's panel includes ex-model and presenter Rosie Tapner, Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl, and Racing TV's Frankie Foster. The move to Style Wednesday did not go down entirely well on social media with some racegoers. Still, former chief executive of The Jockey Club, Nevin Truesdale - who stood down in 2024 - believes that it was a positive switch nonetheless. "We hope that by no longer placing an expectation upon people of what they should and shouldn't wear, we can help highlight that racing really is for everyone," he told the Mail last year. "For those who visit our venues, a day at the races is all about spending quality leisure time with friends and family, and we believe people enjoy themselves best when they feel relaxed. "A major part of that is wearing clothing which you are comfortable in. While The Jockey Club has a rich heritage and history it is also a forward-thinking organisation which places a great emphasis on diversity and inclusion and always seeks to reflect modern trends. "So, when we reviewed this area of the race day experience, it has been clear to us that enforcing a dress code seems rather outdated in the 21st Century in the eyes of many of our racegoers. Of course, that doesn't mean we are discouraging people from dressing up for a day at the races if they want to."