Travelling to a race day

Whether you are hitching up the horse float or caravan, planning to drive thousands of kilometres or hopping on a plane, travelling to a race day with FOTF can be both an exciting and daunting experience.

The logistics of not only packing for the trip but also EVERYTHING you will need for race-days and possibly functions can be overwhelming, along with the thought of getting them there in one piece! Here are a few tips from myself as a seasoned race day traveller from well before the event: 

• Schedule beauty appointments at home in the weeks & days prior to the event. For me that consists of hair colour, spray tan, nails, pedicure, brows and eyelash refills. Mum also joins me for some of these services as she is my race day travel buddy
• Book any services you may require at your destination well in advance, like hair & makeup (6 to 12 months out is not too early for some popular events). Find out how far they are from your hotel if you need to travel to them so you allow yourself ample time
• For big carnivals with multiple events, we always book maximum luggage when travelling by plane. There’s nothing worse than not having enough room to bring everything you would like or getting stuck paying for excess baggage at the airport. Create a list of everything you need and pack accordingly. I usually have an ongoing list I add to the notes in my phone, as you never know when you might think of something. Mum and I usually pack one hard case between us for just millinery for big carnivals. For smaller carnivals, we pack millinery either in a hard carry on case or within a hat box in our suitcase 
• Think about how your clothes will look after travelling in a suitcase. I always travel with a travel steamer (I love my Jiffy steamer!) & an ironing cloth, as you never know what sort of iron you will get in a hotel room. I also pack a stain remover pen (I use the Tide brand) & baby wipes in case of marks on clothes/millinery. Crease Release spray & static spray are usually in my luggage as well. I bring a few over door hanging hooks when I travel as it makes it easier to steam clothes & allow freshly steamed/ironed clothes to cool down. Packing hangers, especially for garments that require a particular kind is also useful, as hotel rooms don’t often offer as many as required
• I know this is very personal, but think about the underwear you’ll wear with each outfit. Even do a try on with your outfits before you leave home & pack extra just in case! At one race meet I travelled too, I didn’t realize how unforgiving a certain fabric would be on my undergarments, so luckily I had other options before heading out the door. I always also pack all sorts of double sided tape for garments & ‘booby’ tape & covers for those outfits that just don’t allow for regular underwear. If your outfit requires a slip or shape wear, ensure you have these packed also 
• If you’re heading to an event where you will be on your feet for multiple events in heels or uncomfortable footwear, make sure you bring comfortable flats to walk longer distances. I also pack to keep at my hotel gel shoe inserts, blister bandaids & spray, numbing spray & cream just in case! Take every opportunity to rest your feet between events! 
• I’m a big advocate of either keeping a list of each outfit I’ll be wearing including every element, or even taking it to the next level & creating a spreadsheet or table. This is not only helpful when packing but also when putting outfits together. I have uploaded a template of the list I use to this website 
• When travelling with multiple outfits, I like to store as many accessories as I can in the clutch or bag I’ll be using for that event. That may include earrings, gloves, any other jewellery, sunglasses etc You can even pop in your lipstick so you can easily find the correct shade on the day! I also throw in a few bobby pins & safety pins into each bag/clutch for those unexpected mishaps
• When travelling & using multiple bags/clutches I put my essential cards & a little cash into a card holder, which can easily be transferred between bags
• I always carry a portable phone charger with me to the track (well Mum usually has it for me) as phones have an awful habit of running out of battery just when you need them! Phones can be problematic at the track if they don’t fit into your bag or seamlessly into a pocket, so think in advance if someone you know can hold it for you whilst on the stage  
• For those of you who are regulars on social media, pre-preparing your caption including outfit details, tags & hashtags before the day can make it much easier to keep up with any posts during the day 
• Is there a chance you’ll be going out for any additional dinners or drinks during your stay? I always pack in a few comfortable outfits that both travel well & look good in flats. I like to travel with some pretty flat sandals, ballet flats or lower heels to give my feet a break between formal events 
• I touched on millinery earlier, but if travelling and you can possibly do so, commission pieces that are good for travelling. I know this is not always possible, but it’s something that Jill (my milliner Jill Humphries/Millinery Jill) & I consider when discussing pieces to travel with. Talk to your milliner about the best way to travel with your pieces. They are experts at posting pieces around the world, so if stuck ask them for advice. I’ve even heard of people posting millinery to their hotel or to a friend who lives locally to the event if it’s too difficult to carry to a location! If carrying on board, check with the airline about their requirements. Most people I’ve spoken to have had success calling airlines directly to discuss
• Don’t forget your sunglasses! I hear all too often that racegoers ‘wish they had packed their sunglasses’. I know of some ladies who won’t wear them until after they have competed in FOTF so not to touch their makeup, but have them with you nevertheless 
• If you are planning to splurge and get your hair & makeup done professionally, still pack some makeup and hair accessories for those ‘just in case’ moments. The same goes for a small sewing kit to reattach buttons, dropped hems or millinery elastics & combs. If you have more than one event to attend in a day and getting your hair done professionally, think about a style that might work for both events 
• Pack something that can easily removed when you are ready to get dressed. I am a big fan of strapless elasticized top maxi dresses or maxi dresses that tie at the shoulders. That way I can easily transition between hairdresser, make up artist & the track without anything needing to go over my head. Zip front hoodies or cardigans are also useful if it’s not warm to wear over the top. I often get dressed into my race wear with one of these dresses still on so it can be simply pulled down once my race wear outfit is on  
• Pop up shower tents and car cabanas are so handy and compact to travel with for those getting changed by the car at the track. I’ve even travelled with my pop up shower tent interstate when hiring a car at the destination as it fits into my largest suitcase! Don’t forget something to stand on like a picnic rug, old towel or tarp as car parks at race tracks are often grass (or mud!) 
• Pack extra of anything that may easily tear or break such as hosiery and millinery elastic. For long racing carnivals I even pack a full additional outfit! 
• Check levels of essentials like makeup, hairspray etc before you leave home to ensure they don’t run out or are empty upon arrival 
• I always pack some garbage & lingerie bags in my suitcase to throw my dirty washing into as I go. I use a separate bag for garments that require dry cleaning
• Prior to packing your shoes away for your return, give your shoes a quick wipe over to not only maintain your shoes but ensure they don’t dirty your other items. I generally travel with my shoes in individual shoe bags & do the same with my handbags/clutches to avoid marks & colour transfer 

Including a race day as a part of a family holiday or short break away can be a fantastic way to not only enjoy a race day but also meet new friends and make memories with your loved ones. What better way to explore your own country or another than competing outside of your own region! 

Emma Scodellaro May 2023

Some of the items mentioned I’ve added images below. Other items I’ve mentioned can be found in my article ‘Race wear care’ on this website. If there are any items you are interested in that I have mentioned and can‘t find online, feel free to contact me!

Update November 2023! We have put together the ultimate FOTF travel list thanks to our members contributions! Download here