If you want to do January right, you need to organise a celebration to end your first week back at work.

Consider it a little treat to yourself for making it through a mountain of emails and many, many cobwebs upstairs.

Good news, then – tickets for the 2020 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival, hosted at Kenilworth Racecourse on Friday, 10 January and Saturday, 11 January 2020, are officially on sale through Computicket.

The classic blue and white theme is complemented by the best in local wine and cuisine, great entertainment, and 18 high-class races spread across the two-day card.

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate deserves its reputation as one of the most stylish events on the Cape Town calendar. Guests are encouraged to dress elegantly blue and white and L’Ormarins will be rewarding Friday’s Best Hat and Best Dressed Lady and Gentleman with wonderful Cartier spoils, while a grand prize of a trip for two to the Qatar Glorious Goodwood Racing Festival is on offer to Saturday’s Best Dressed couple.

The 2020 LQP Festival officially gets underway at midday on Friday, 10^th January 2020 with L’Ormarins’ elegant Garden Party.

For those who prefer the great indoors, the Somerset Room presents a formal, three-course luncheon in air-conditioned comfort with elevated views of the track for R400 per person. Guests also have access to the races and a private bar with toilet and tote facilities.

Saturday’s hospitality choices start with the ever-popular Style Lounge Village.  A R350 entry ticket includes in-field parking and a short walk across the track gets you to the Style Lounge Village, where guests can mingle while enjoying the day’s horse racing entertainment, tote facilities, L’Ormarins Brut, fine Anthonij Rupert wines, local food concessionaires, the Franschhoek Motor Museum displays and the famous L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate after-party.

Tickets to the Kenilworth Room include a three-course lunch in air-conditioned comfort, panoramic views of the course and private bar, toilet and tote facilities.  Your R700 ticket also includes access to the Style Lounge Village with its concession stands, the Franschhoek Motor Museum displays and entry to the after-party.

Other popular options include the Peninsula Jazz Room ticket, which goes for R1 500, and the perennial favourite, the Paddock Sites tickets, at R1 000 per head.

If you are looking for a prime spot to watch the day’s racing in the heart of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate buzz, but without having to forego all the added luxuries, the Stud Club (R1 300)  is the ticket for you. Offering a ringside seat to the day’s action, this option secures an exclusive, secure and private area in a prime location on the rail, a beautifully dressed area with private bars, private totes, lounge areas and cocktail seating, selected complimentary Anthonij Rupert wines and Heineken, as well as a private cash bar, while a light lunch and snacks will be served.

Tickets also include entrance into the Style Lounge Village facilities, Franschhoek Motor Museum displays and access to the after-party.

Finally, as the sun sets over Kenilworth Racecourse, the Style Lounge Village entertainment marquee transforms into the official after-party venue.  With a host of top local DJs lined up to ensure you dance the night away, the 2020 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate promises to be one of Cape Town’s best parties of the summer.

Katherine Gray, co-ordinator of LQP 2019, says:

“The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival is the only one of its kind in South Africa and strives to offer something for everyone, from the die-hard horse racing fan to Cape Town’s social and fashion elite.  No matter where you choose to race from, guests are guaranteed to feel first class.”

Which is exactly what you deserve after your first week back at work.

Monday, January 6 is going to be far more bearable if you know you’re donning your finest and living large come the weekend.

You can find further information on all of the various tickets, as well as buy them, via Computicket.

Who knows – maybe you’ll win your money back with a few shrewd bets.