Some people dress to express their own sense of individuality, some to boost self-confidence, others to evoke a mood – such as formality or celebration. Most mornings I simply reach for whatever’s nearest and likely to keep me warm.

But Kelso’s Ladies Day on Sunday is not most mornings…. for a start, it’s already forecast to be very warm, so no tweed jacket required.

And, if the likelihood of Ladies Day coinciding with a fine sunny weekend isn’t reason enough to celebrate in style, there are plenty of other incentives for donning your best gear and heading down to the races – including a fantastic array of prizes for the best-turned-out.

Not the horses (although there will be a £50 cash prize, as normal, for the lad or lass responsible for the best-turned-out horse in each race), but the racegoers.

The Dapper Chap Award, for the best dressed gentleman on the racecourse, includes a wonderful bespoke suit, made to measure by Humes Outfitters in Kelso worth £1,200. Meanwhile, the Queen of Style will win a luxury stay at the Schloss Roxburghe Hotel, as well as wellbeing and shopping vouchers, worth a total of more than £1,000. Sponsors of the Queen of Style award include: The Colourful Edit, Vintage Beesoms, Hay Wellbeing, Face Lab Aesthetics, and Kitty & Gus.

That’s not all – there’s an award for the best dressed couple too, including a tasty tour of the Borders Distillery in Hawick, and a similarly tasty lunch for two at Scott’s of Kelso (the fabulous little restaurant located in Bridge Street, next door to the Deli / Butchers which is in the same ownership – ask for a cut of meat which is not on the menu, and watch them skip round to carve a piece for you).

Everybody attending the races will be eligible for the awards. The judges will be patrolling the public enclosure as soon as the gates open at 12.00 noon and will invite a short list of finalists to attend the Colourful Edit Catwalk marquee between races. There’s a bar in the marquee too, so those that aren’t nominated can enjoy a shot of something from the Borders Distillery while forming their own opinion of the outfits on the catwalk. Whatever your thoughts, please Play By The Rules (which happens to be the name of Sunday’s selection), the judges’ decision is final.

Despite the emphasis on style, there isn’t a specific dress code for Ladies Day. As always at Kelso Races, we recommend wearing something comfortable and appropriate for the weather. There’ll be plenty of girls that arrive in heels and leave in flip-flops, there’ll be some that wish they’d brought sun screen, or a jacket, but we bet everyone will be glad that they came dressed ready for a celebration. Have fun.