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Racing Fashion Weekly

Date to be announced · second Tuesday in November (2026: Tuesday 10 November)

NZ Trotting Cup Day (Addington)

Addington Raceway, Christchurch, New Zealand

flagship

Harness racing, but Christchurch's biggest dress-up day: the official site sums it up as 'fascinators and tailored suits', with a three-category fashion competition.

what to wear

The dress code

Dress standard
Formal
Millinery
expected
Season
Spring

Women

General/public areas: no dress code published. Hospitality areas have a written code (see enclosures). Read 13 Nov 2026.

Encouraged

  • dresses, hats or statement pieces
  • footwear suitable for grassed areas

Men

General/public areas: no dress code published. Hospitality areas require smart dress (see enclosures). Read 13 Nov 2026.

Encouraged

  • jackets or suits
  • collared shirts

Outfits built to this dress code

What to wear to NZ Trotting Cup Day, Addington

5 outfits for women and men, with the reason each one passes.

See the outfits

Styling notes

No outside food or drink and no BYO alcohol on Cup Day. 2025 Best Dressed winner Danni Alfeld described her look as 'elegant, simple, traditional racewear' (RNZ).

Weather

Christchurch mid-November: about 8-20 C; a hot nor'wester or a cold southerly are both possible. Grass in the village and infield. (General climate knowledge.)

History

Cup Week Christchurch at Addington ran 10-13 November 2026 (Cup Day Tuesday, Show Day Friday).

where you are standing

Enclosure by enclosure

Hospitality areas

'Track pants, sneakers, t-shirts, jandals, shorts or sportswear are NOT permitted in these areas.'

Women

Dress 'smartly and stylishly': 'classic racewear or elevated summer style'; blouses, tailored pants or skirts, dresses; hats or statement pieces encouraged; footwear suitable for grass. Formal national and cultural attire welcome.

Men

Collared shirts, tailored pants, jackets or suits, polished accessories. Formal national and cultural attire welcome.

Public Village

Public Village tickets include viewing of the Cup Day Fashion Competition.

Women

No dress code published.

Men

No dress code published.

The Kirin Hyoketsu Infield

Party area; no rule on the FAQ page.

Women

No dress code published.

Men

No dress code published.

Fashions on the Field

  • Cup Day Fashion Competition (2026): Power of Colour; Best Dressed; Best Suited. 2026 winners: Virginia Brosnan (Power of Colour), Pauline Pattullo (Best Dressed), Fraser Darling (Best Suited). 2026 prize sponsors included Blue Lagoon Cruises and Fiji Airways (Best Dressed), The Peninsular Mooloolaba (Best Suited), Abby Button Styling, Bright Red, Queenstown Park Hotel, Andrea Biani and Max (Power of Colour).

Check the official details before you go: nzcupweek.co.nz ↗

for the day

Shop the look

HeadwearDressesShoesBagsJewellerySuitingOuterwearAccessories

save the date

Coming up

  • majorFri 13 Nov 2026

    Bahrain International Trophy

    Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, Sakhir (Riffa)

    Bahrain's Group 1 night and the kingdom's main social race meeting. The Bahrain Turf Club publishes no dress code; national dress or smart, modest evening wear is the norm.

  • majorFri 13 Nov 2026

    Show Day Races (Addington)

    Addington Raceway, Christchurch

    The Friday public-holiday harness meeting of Cup Week: a dressed-up crowd, looser than Cup Day.

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