Perth’s trackside social season is now in full swing as Ascot Racecourse steals the national horseracing spotlight and welcomes back punters for a blockbuster spring and summer carnival.
With Melbourne Cup week coming to a close today, WA racing is the focus over the next six weeks for those wanting a flutter or to show off the latest fashion.
The local action kicked off last month at the Unite Resourcing Opening Day which saw the unveiling of the newly renovated Tote Exchange Bar and Lounge — one of Ascot’s oldest heritage spaces.
TABtouch Derby Day brought a touch of timeless elegance, with racegoers embracing the traditional black and white dress code and showcasing some of Perth’s finest racewear.
Saturday’s Lee Steere Stakes is the appetiser to The Pinnacles carnival which blasts off next Staturday, November 14 and runs through to Saturday, December 12.
Across the 2026 Ascot Racing Carnival, Perth Racing expects to welcome more than 80,000 racegoers — an 11 per cent increase in attendance from last season.
Some of those racegoers will include many Perthonalities who are set to place bets, enjoy bubbles on ice and take in the manicured lawns at major events sprinkled through the carnival.
The five consecutive Saturdays of elite racing during The Pinnacles will be followed into the height of Perth’s summer with the TABtouch Perth Cup on New Year’s Day.
Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring said Perth’s appetite for a day at the races is stronger than ever following the relaunch of Belmont Park and attendance growth at Ascot.
“What’s particularly exciting is the growing number of younger racegoers embracing Ascot as a place to socialise, celebrate and experience the excitement of live racing,” he said.
From AFL players and sports stars, politicians and business bigwigs, to influencers, celebrities, and veterans of the industry, here are some of the famous faces often trackside for Perth’s biggest racing carnival.
SPORT STARS
West Coast Eagles co-captain Liam Baker and his teammates Elijah Hewett and Jake Waterman are sure to make an appearance after the trio were spotted at the Sporting Legends Day last year.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was also there, with Ben Cousins and Elliot Yeo expected to get amongst the buzzing atmosphere this year.
It’s also possible Perth’s “Prancing Pony” Pat Voss and his Fremantle Dockers’ teammates Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan and Nathan O’Driscoll will be featured in the social pages again after also hitting up 2025’s Sporting Legends Day.
Dockers captain Alex Pearce and teammate Matthew Johnson have also been sent invites to this season’s events.
Despite relocating to the east coast, Perth-raised AFL players Chad Warner (Sydney Swans), Jack Carroll (St Kilda) and Patrick Cripps (Carlton) may jet over to enjoy a race-day or two.
AFL stars’ connection to racing runs deep, with Clark co-owning a racehorse named Ocean Chill with Fremantle teammates.
While it’s unclear if former Docker turned Collingwood Magpie Lachie Neale will be at Ascot, he is part of a syndicate that owns the racehorse Two Time Charlie trained by Simon Miller in WA.
And Warner holds ownership interests in multiple WA thoroughbreds and participates in WA racing syndicates.
Former professional rugby league player Matty Fuller, who owns Fuller Fitness in Subiaco, and golfer Min Woo Lee will also be trackside this season.
POLITICIANS
Pollies are hard to spot as they are usually wined and dined in the Chairman’s Lounge, but former WA premier Mark McGowan is known to hit up the racecourse. He was famously photographed enjoying the TABtouch Gold Rush Day in December 2023.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti and former defence industries minister, now Duratec strategic advisor Paul Papalia and Minister for Police Reece Whitby are expected to descend on Ascot this season.
BUSINESS BIGWIGS
Tony Patrizi, co-founder and managing director of GR Engineering Services, a prominent Perth-based engineering consultancy, is a race-day contender, and PKF Perth managing partner Darren Shillington will also get in on the action.
Bill Beament, the managing director of Develop Global Limited and Ben Fleay, a financial adviser with Euroz Hartleys Limited, are sure to be invited to a spring party and Brett Fogarty, founder and executive chair of Perth-based engineering and infrastructure company GRD, is known to frequent racing circles.
INFLUENCERS
Fashionista Montana Criddle is a frequent face at Ascot, often with stylist and model Paul Antoine by her side.
Viral TikTokker Emily Grosser and former MAFS stars Stephen Stewart, Beck Zemek, Awhina Rutene and Jeff Gobbels are also known to show up in their best floral flocks.
Former The Bachelor stars Ellie Rolfe, Nikki Gogan, Dumped Wife’s Revenge Instagram star Dianne Laurance, and radio presenter and MC Alana McLean are sure to dabble in some afternoon racing, entertainment and summer celebrations.
The partner of West Coast Eagles star Tim Kelly, Caitlin Miller, is also a prominent fashion queen at Ascot and wore bold zebra-print dress for Melbourne Cup Day in 2024.
Model Holly Young, fashion influencer Charlie Smith, stylist Gabi Holt, lifestyle influencer Alesha Pemberton and viral street interviewer Jasky Singh AKA Mr Sikkant will also be at the carnival.
Perth’s most authoritative voice on “steak sangas”, Ben Roberts of Crafternoons is also set to be at the heart of all the horsey action.
TV CELEBRITIES
Respected journalist and presenter Tina Altieri, 7NEWS weather presenter Samantha Jolly, senior reporter Amelia Broun and Sunrise Perth presenter Matt Tinney are sure to enjoy some champagne as the horses thunder down the straight.
Bec Judd’s sister Kate Twigley, who starred on The Amazing Race, will also be looking glamorous as Fashions of the Field takes place on Quayclean Champion Fillies’ Day on November 14.
RACING VETERANS
Retired Australian champion thoroughbred racing jockey Damien Oliver, widely regarded as one of the greatest riders in the history of Australian turf sports, is set to make an appearance this season.
And the first lady of Australian racing Gai Waterhouse has also been extended an invite for the Perth season. The Sydney businesswoman and sporting icon has been a trailblazer for the sport and has brought her horses to Perth for the carnival on numerous occasions.
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