History and Fashion at Royal Ascot
In 1711, Queen Anne saw the potential for a racecourse at East Cote, declaring that it looked an ideal place for “horses to gallop at full stretch” while out riding, according to the Ascot website. Over time, rules around fashion began to develop. For instance, until 1783, jockeys were permitted to wear whatever they liked when racing. However, this often created confusion, and it was therefore decided that they would wear the colours of the horse owner.