Frequently Asked Questions- as posed by the FOTF community

There is no such thing as a general set of overarching FOTF ‘rules’, ‘guidelines’ or ‘terms & conditions’ which covers all competitions. Each club sets their own, if they have any at all, based on their own individual circumstances. 

· Rules - set by the club for competitors and judges to adhere to

· Guidelines - a set of suggestions set out by the club for competition. These are provided to competitors as a general guide to assist with their planning prior to an event and given to judges as a guide only. These are not strict rules but merely recommendations or suggestions

· Terms & Conditions - conditions of entry. Often competitors must sign to agree to these or agree to simply by entering. We advise every competitor to read these carefully before attending an event. These may also include photographic waivers

Yes. FOTF judges are often experienced competitors and are asked to judge due to their knowledge of race wear, current trends and understanding of quality millinery. Clubs may have rules around judges competing at the same event they are judging or within the same carnival they are judging at, but that is completely up to the discretion of each individual club. Clubs often have a difficult task in securing judges with adequate FOTF knowledge. In light of this, it is recommended that you thank the judges, regardless of your placing on the day. 

The racing community is a friendly place that encourages visitors from all over the world to attend their race days. This not only grows the race day, brings positive attention to the region but is also beneficial to the local economy. FOTF is an inclusive event that encourages all to compete and is often the primary reason why people may choose to travel to a particular event over another. Many race clubs who receive a large contingent of non-local FOTF competitors often hold a ‘local’ category for people that live within their region. Unless a club or competition has a specific rule about non-locals entering ie must be an Australian citizen, anyone is free to enter. Many entrants love to compete in FOTF and may not have many opportunities to compete in their region or country, so choose to include race days that hold competitions as a part of a getaway. Check the Terms & Conditions of entry of each club to see if they have a clause regarding your location as a condition of entry. 

FOTF is a best dressed competition - therefore the best dressed (in the eyes of the judges) must always win, regardless of any previous wins. We would not ask any other sportsperson or racehorse to stop competing as they were too successful, so why should it be any different within FOTF competitions? Instead of looking to increase your personal chances of winning by excluding other entrants, use it as an opportunity to evolve your personal style. Look at the styling of winning entrants and take tips from how they present themselves. Very few clubs have rules on previous winners not being allowed to re-enter, and if they do, it is usually for a short period of time. 

Unless a club has a specific clause in their Terms & Conditions about how many times a person is able to win or place, if they are deemed the best or eligible for a place in more than one category by the judging panel, they are able to place more than once. Each category should be judged independently and on its own merit, regardless of previous results. ‘Sharing’ around the prizes may seem fair to some, but when you look at the intention of each competition and category, the best should always win. As an example, think of any other sporting competition with multiple categories. 

Most clubs have within their Terms & Conditions a clause that states something along the lines of ‘the judges decision is final & no discussion will be entered into after the event’. However if there is a direct breach of the rules you should raise this with a FOTF committee member immediately. Remember that you have chosen to participate in the competition, and there are no guarantees of winning or placing. Some entrants are attracted to attend events that they know are well run and judged, whereas others are focused on the prizes. Inventing excuses for why you didn’t win by blaming judges or coming up with conspiracy theories isn’t helpful to anyone and is prevalent in people with negative mindsets. FOTF is a fun additional event provided by race clubs, and to ensure its continuation and growth, a positive and supportive attitude is appreciated by clubs and organisers. 

In the interests of sustainability, re-wearing outfits or elements of outfits is encouraged. Often competitors will make subtle changes or mix and match parts of outfits in order to keep looks fresh. Unless a competition has a clause within their Terms & Conditions about re-wearing outfits, feel free to re-wear. 

These days it is common for clubs to have themes for particular FOTF competitions. Unless the thematic criteria is written into the Terms & Conditions of the competition, the judges are encouraged to follow the guidelines, but remember that guidelines are just this, a guide. If an outstanding look appears before the judges that does not strictly meet the guidelines, there may be a winner outside of these guidelines. 

It is your choice to enter any FOTF competition and when doing so, agree to be judged regardless of the experience of the judges. If you are passionate about assisting the club in growing their competition and assisting the club to elevate their competition standards, volunteer to assist the club with its organisation or judging for future events. Some clubs are now asking experienced judges to assist with their judging panel as a mentor to help grow their understanding of race wear. 

The FOTF community is relatively small, and through means such as social media and travel, many people know each other whether closely or by acquaintance. It is almost impossible to find a judge that has no previous connection to some or all of the competitors being presented before them. Have faith in the selection of the judging panel by the club, as the judges were chosen for a reason. Before questioning the integrity of the judges, remember that they are generally a part of a larger panel, so the winners are decided by a general consensus agreed upon by discussion, a points system or a combination of both. 

Sending in complaints to clubs and sponsors without offering assistance or viable solutions is to the detriment of FOTF and does nothing to improve the growth of our amazing pastime. Remember that FOTF is a privilege and not a right, as it is often an added extra run by volunteers to further enhance a race day. We are at race days first and foremost because of the sport of horse racing. Think about what you can do to assist a club by volunteering, helping to set up guidelines, helping to source prizes etc. If you are having a constantly negative experience when competing in FOTF, think about whether you still love what you do, as it is meant to be fun! 

FOTF is an amateur competition. All FOTF competitors are individuals competing for themselves, who all began their FOTF experience somewhere and have developed their style and wardrobes over many years. Success in FOTF is not guaranteed to anyone, no matter your experience level. There is no such thing as a ‘professional’ competitor as FOTF is not regulated by any governing body, although some competitors may have more experience, enter more competitions or have a higher social profile than others. When beginning your FOTF journey, look to the more experienced competitors as a positive way to develop your own style, personal presentation and for general inspiration. The majority of FOTF garments worn to race days can now be sourced online, including custom made outfits, custom made millinery and accessories, with many experienced competitors who are deemed to have an advantage, sourcing their outfits in this way. FOTF outfits are not winning looks because of their branding or price, but because of how well the outfit suits the wearer, how it is styled and it’s ‘wow’ factor in the eyes of the judges. ‘Privilege’ due to access to resources or amounts of wins in FOTF is simply a perception, so every individual should be treated and judged on their own merits. 

 Where possible, it is best not to have organizers judging. This way the judging is independent and when issues arise the organizer is in a neutral position. This may not be possible at very small/remote clubs whereby judges are hard to source.

Fun and positivity are concepts that are unique to each individual and are experienced in different ways, so cannot be specifically defined. Surround yourself with people who simply enjoy being at the track and by extension, fashion. Have one on one conversations to get to know individuals. Most of all, wear an outfit you absolutely love and that you feel amazing wearing. Do not focus on the FOTF result if it does not go your way or reasons why you did not win, as this sets in a negative mindset. Instead look at the winners and the beautiful elements of their outfits that stood out to the judges. Think about what has been good about your day and how you can learn from each competition to help improve your own personal style. After all, we are all lifelong learners!