She's mucked out stables and owned several race winners, now Danielle Cleary is on a mission to create a more elegant and educated generation of racegoer.
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Part of arguably the region's best known racing family, and daughter-in-law to ACT Sport Hall of Fame trainer Frank Cleary, Ms Cleary said it was time to end the excessive flesh on display among young women having a day out.
"I never really got into the fashion on the field myself," she said.
"But because I attend the race meetings I see a lot of it and the people who aren't dressed in appropriate racewear."
Ms Cleary, 41, started her own events company last year and said her Black Opal Experience cocktail gathering on Sunday, February 15 was one of many she hoped would shift Canberra's racewear culture.
The event at Hotel Realm in Barton will display the autumn trends in men's and women's fashion and a collection of couture headpieces created by Canberra's finest milliners.
Expert beauty and styling advice will be offered.
"To educate women [about] the knee length dresses and millinery is a must," Ms Cleary said.
"Although they're slightly more covered they do feel better about themselves and its empowering women to think you don't have to dress in those short skirts – you can look stylish, elegant and attract attention in a more appropriate way."
The businesswoman grew up in Queanbeyan, with her horse trainer father Jack Vanduren owning land behind the city's race course.
Mr Vanduren's greatest successes were 18 wins with Sir Avalanche.
Horses owned by Ms Cleary and husband Matthew have had wins in Moruya and Sapphire Coast races in the last month.
Matthew's father Frank, 66, is the only trainer to win both Canberra's Black Opal Stakes and Sydney's Golden Slipper, taking the honour in 1999 with Catbird. Mr Cleary senior will share some stories at the Black Opal Experience.
Ms Cleary said the region did not do enough prelude events ahead of its major sporting days.
She said she would love the public to better appreciate the power of the animal and the hard work involved in getting them to the track.
Last-minute tickets for the Black Opal Experience can be bought on 0427 666 584 or www.danielleclearyevents.com.
