The work the VRC has been putting into getting young people to the track seems to be paying off.
The Park, with its lawn bowls, live music stage and photo booths, was of particular interest to the youth later in the day, though it took some time to fill up.
Brodie, Jaz and Hunter.Credit: Brittany Busch
Friends Brodie Gower and Hunter Hawkins were hanging out there, attending Derby Day for the first time at 18 years old.
“The atmosphere, the music, sports betting, alcohol. More the social side of it, getting together,” Hawkins said of the day’s appeal.
“I liked the karaoke stuff they had going on [at the main stage], everyone singing to Taylor Swift,” Gower said.
For their friend Jaz Bevan, it was “definitely the fashion”.
Sienna and Claudia.Credit: Brittany Busch
The same went for Claudia McKenzie and Sienna Sleeth, 21, who were also at their first races and had travelled from Shepperton.
“This is like the one time we go full out, fascinators, everything,” McKenzie said.
“It’s just a good excuse to go out and day drink with the girlies.“
They didn’t know the artist Anastasia, who is playing later today and has a certain nostalgic appeal to older Gen Z, but they said it didn’t matter.
“We’ll be there,” Sleeth said.
Sleeth said she wasn’t interested in a head piece that would compete with her curls, instead opting for a statement dress.
“I thought the curls would do the talking, and the dress would do the talking,” she said.
For McKenzie, it was all about textures and being “out there”.
