Brilliant Colours At Races At Riccarton

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 2

Brilliant Colours At Races At Riccarton

The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase of 1957 will be remembered primarily for ' the outstanding performances of (Cogitation and Conkeda and their (riders, but women patrons at Ric- , carton last Saturday will look back on the day for another reason—the spectacle of colour on the stands and lawns.

Though it was cold weather, the sun shone for the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s opening day of its Grand National meeting to enhance the vivid array of new shades worn by women spectators. The art of good dressing is to be suitably clad, and those in winter coats or warm suits looked the most appropriately attired on the day. In the past a la.ge crowd of women at a cold-weather race meeting dressed in their warm- ' est and most comfortable outfits usually made a null grey, scene, but not so on August 3, 1957.

| The lovely pinks toning into • apricot, flame and orange, the ■ many blues, yellows and lime 'greens stood out most effectively j against the soft shades of cream, i beige, mid-browns an 1 some ; greys, which are still very I popular. Even the jockeys’ colours ! often looked quite pale against : the brightness of women’s hats, topcoats and suits along the birdcage rails, when the horses were • parading. . . . Preview of Spring After so many high-degree frosts it was easy to believe that spring is not far away, even though snow-covered mountains glistened in the distance and a chilly breeze prevented many women from removing their coats to show new spring frocks. Fashion interest was focused mainly on millinery. Deepcrowned models worn low over the brow were numerous, but j the flattering off-the-face line .was much more in evidence. In j the latter group was the new (sou’wester, made with large or ' small brims, firmly fluted at the back of the brim or softly turned I down, following the line from 'the upsweep in front. One large rosebud or a little cluster of I flowers was the w favourite trimming on the day? ’’’weeds Popular Flecked and nobbly tweeds in rich colour blends for top coats and suits vied with plain materials in strong shades. Topcoats, for the most part, were straight and well-cut; suit jackets were casually loose or trimly fitting, according to the wearer’s taste. Fur coats were not as frequently seen as might have been expected for a winter meeting, though many luxurious furs in jackets,

capes and stoles appeared later in the day. Eye-catching was the loosefitting jacket suit of soft lilac tweed worn with a large felt sou’wester to match. One of the smartest ensemblds was a straightcut coat of magnolia basketweave wool, worn over a matching jacket frock with a deep-crowned toque of black folded satin and black accessories, including a long furled umbrella. A seven-eighth length jacket and skirt in fine aqu„ tweed was worn effectively with a fiesta pink bucket hat, which had a deeper toned rosebud perched in front. Among the topcoats, one of the most striking was a lime green nobbly tweed with wide shawl collar of brown nylon fur, small lime upturned felt hat trimmed with a small spray of lime, coffee and clear yellow flowers at one side. Woman Owner’s Win The Winter Cup was the only race won by a woman owner. Sir Valley, which belongs to Mrs A. E. Holden, of Morrinsville, was third consecutive winner of this event to carry the colours of a woman owner. Mrs F. J. Hobson, of Christchurch, won the event in 1955 and 1956 with Royal Warrant.

Mrs Gilbert Grigg, wife of the chairman of the committee, wore a smartly tailored suit of cocoa browu / and black smooth-faced tweed and an upturned hat of beige felt swathed in chiffon to tone.

Racing enthusiasts from many parts of New Zealand who were entertained by the club included the following:—Sir Matthew Oram an Lady Oram, Mr and Mrs John Duncan <Wellington), Mrs G. Wall and Mrs Murphy (Gisborne), Mrs B. N. Thomas (South Canterbury), Major and Mrs A. N. Rattray (Waimate), Mr and Mrs J. Sutherland (Waimate), Mr and Mrs H. Glazebrook (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs T. F. Latham (Wellington), Dr. E. Fitzgerald (Oamaru), Mr and Mrs Barry Blundell (Wellington),. Mr and Mrs W. L. Cunningham and Mrs A. Macdonald (Otago), Mr and Mrs H. H. Elworthy and Mr and Mrs R. R. Jordan (South Canterbury). Mr and Mrs W. E. I’azlett (Southland).