The Jockey Club has announced that formal dress codes will no longer be required across its 15 racecourses.
Apart from a few exceptions, racegoers will be able to wear anything they wish with immediate effect in all enclosures at Jockey Club tracks, including Cheltenham, Aintree, Newmarket, Epsom and Sandown.
The Jockey Club has stated the move is part of a campaign to make the sport more "accessible and inclusive".
The debate over dress codes at British racecourses has raged on over the years but it resurfaced last year when two people were initially refused entry to Sandown's most expensive enclosure on bet365 Gold Cup day in April, as a result of wearing trainers.
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Significant social media criticism greeted the news with accusations that such policies were elitist and outdated.
The Jockey Club, which owns Sandown, subsequently said it intended to review its dress code arrangement and it has announced the changes having gained feedback from attendees.
The only exceptions to the new Jockey Club policy is offensive fancy dress or offensive clothing of any kind, and replica sports shirts, while the Queen Elizabeth II Stand at Epsom will also continue to require either morning dress or formal daywear on Derby day.
Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale said: "Horse racing has always been a sport enjoyed by people from all different backgrounds and it’s really important to us to be accessible and inclusive. 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.
"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when we reviewed this area of the race day experience, it has been clear to us that enforcing a dress code seems rather outdated in the 21st century in the eyes of many of our racegoers.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. This is about giving people a choice and the opportunity to come racing dressed however they feel most comfortable and confident, while also bearing in mind the challenges regularly presented by the British weather."
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