I never imagined either Jane or Cassandra to be typical attendees at the races either as some of the race-goers were among the most fashionable 'sets' (not that I am saying that JA and CA weren't fashionable, but they were not particularly well-off). Ascot (one of the main and most famous race-courses in Britain) began its Gold Cup day in 1807, which was (and is) nicknamed "Ladies' Day", "in the formative years, it was the dominant day in terms of the racing, attracting the largest crowds and, it must be assumed from the emergence of the term "Ladies' Day", more ladies!" (from www.ascot.co.uk)