25 Clare Lindop became the fiurst woman to ride Victoria Derby winner in 2008 on South Australian outsider, Rebel Raider (Slattery) Damien Oliver after winning his fourth VRC Oaks aboard Jameka. (Racing Photos) Since the advent of the original Fashions on the Field promotions sixty years ago, the milliners, the dressmakers and the people who elegantly wear the clothes have become an intrinsic part of this day of champions. For the past thirty years the Victoria Racing Club has proudly hosted – through Melbourne Cup Week, the Oaks Club Luncheon and Oaks Day itself – the biggest names in the business including Zandra Rhodes, Frederick Fox, Renato Balestra, Perri Cutten, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. The emergence of champion women trainers and jockeys has added another modern element to the evolution of Ladies’ Day into Kennedy Oaks Day as we know it today. While still awaiting the first woman to ride a VRC Oaks winner, we celebrated Gai Waterhouse becoming the first to train an Oaks winner, with Pinot in 2017.
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