18 Dec L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival: 2019
The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival will take place at Cape Town’s Kenilworth Race Course on 5-6 January 2019. Dating back to 1861, the Queen’s Plate is the continent’s oldest horse race day and this will be the 158th time the classic equestrian event will be run. The race forms part of the weekend-long programme of events, the format being introduced three years ago as South Africa’s first multi-day racing festival in the mould of such famous international racing festivals as Royal Ascot, Qatar Glorious Goodwood and the Kentucky Derby. The festival features a supreme race card with the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate taking place on the Saturday, when South Africa’s finest thoroughbreds compete for the R1,5 million purse. Both days will offer an impressive array of world-class music and entertainment across a number of hospitality marquees.
As has long been the tradition, ladies and gentlemen are required to dress in a manner appropriate to the smart occasion, adhering to the dress code of blue and white. Ladies are required to dress elegantly and encouraged to wear a hat or fascinator. Stiletto heels are not recommended due to the terrain. No jeans, shorts or fancy dress is permitted. Gentlemen are required to wear jackets and ties, cravats or a smart, open neck shirt and trousers. Linen suits and a waistcoat with the archetypal panama can also be worn. No jeans, shorts, sleeveless shirts, open shoes or fancy dress is permitted. Among the many prizes to be won, the coveted prize for the Best Dressed Lady is a trip for two to London. The winner and a partner will enjoy return flights from South Africa, a five night stay at a top hotel, and two tickets to attend the L’Ormarins Luncheon at the Qatar Glorious Goodwood Racing Festival on 2 August 2019.
FMM together with BMW will once again be supporting the event and among the museum’s models to be displayed are some famous examples of both BMW and its subsidiary Rolls-Royce. Set to appear are the museum’s 1938 BMW 328 sports, 1955 BMW Isetta 250 bubble car, 1959 BMW 2,6 and the ex-Nelson Mandela 2004 760iL Security Edition. Representing the Rolls-Royce marque will be the recently acquired 1915 Silver Ghost, 1928 Phantom 1 and 1934 Phantom 2.
Attendees will have the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the extraordinary new BMW 8 Series Coupe. Guests will be able to put themselves in the driver’s seat, place hands on the wheel and experience the reality of being inside one of the most talked about cars in the world today. “The addition of ‘The 8’ aligns a rare, powerful vehicle with the rare, powerful horses that have upheld the tradition and captivated the Queen’s Plate for over 150 years,” says Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the newly introduced BMW Gentleman’s Racer Lounge will entitle guests to reserved seating, personal service and access to the Stud Club.
After each day’s racing is completed, entertainment takes over and the Style Lounge Village entertainment marquee is transformed into the official after-party venue. Featuring top local DJs, the line-up makes this experience one of Cape Town’s best summer parties.
The programme runs from 12h00 to 18h00 on the Friday and from 12h00 to 23h00 on the Saturday. Tickets are on sale at Computicket.