It’s summer in January, and Table Mountain casts no shadow. ‘Tis the season for South African horse racing, where an air of excitement stirs under a cloudless sky stretching into oblivion. Murmurs permeate a pastel profusion of skirts and sport coats in periwinkle and cream. All await eagerly, but none can be still. The tilt of a hat. A peal of laughter. An anxious sip of bubbling champagne. From the sidelines, the smooth refrain of ambient saxophone morphs into the staccato call of a bugle. A collective intake of breath precedes a moment of silence, pierced by the starting bell, proceeded by imminent thunder. Then comes the exhilarated exhale—the race has begun.

The L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate is not just a highlight of South African horse racing habitude; it is the social affair of the season that sets the precedent for the upcoming year. Held annually at Cape Town’s Kenilworth Racecourse on a weekend in early January, it is a two-day celebration of elegance and equestrianism like no other, where the very highest of global society migrates to the lowest tip of the African continent to enjoy a balmy South Africa summer soiree.

The sport of kings came to the Cape with British rule in 1795, and has since remained a facet of South Africa’s heritage. South African-bred thoroughbreds have historically met success overseas, and are named among the pedigrees of celebrated race horses as recent as Triple Crown champion, Justify. The Queen’s Plate is among the most anticipated of South African horse racing, and was first run in 1861, with a first prize of five hundred sovereigns and a silver plate donated by Queen Victoria herself. Since then, there have been 159 winners in as many years, and the purse has increased to 1.5 million South African Rands.

In recent years, dress code is king at the Queen’s Plate, and blue and white are strictly de-rigueur. This palette pays homage to the racing colors of Drakenstein Stud Farm, located on the L’Ormarin’s Wine Estate, which sponsors the race. With only two colors to work with, attendees challenge fashion designers—both local and international—to curate confections that are both original and à la mode for summer in January. Competitions for the best dressed and best hat are judged by South Africa’s top fashion designers and media personalities. The award for best dressed lady comes with its own coveted prize: a trip for two to London, and two tickets to attend the L’Ormarins Luncheon at the Qatar Glorious Goodwood Racing Festival during the British summer.

There are myriad marquees for viewing the festivities, each with its own unique vantage point on the weekend’s races. Style Village and the Paddock Sites offer accommodations alfresco under blue and white striped tents; the former boasts an endless supply of fine Anthonij Rupert wines and L’Ormarins Brut, the latter a sumptuous picnic feast and prime views of the finish line. The air-conditioned indoor viewings, however, are frequented by the crème de la crème—the Somerset Room and Peninsula Jazz Room offer live accompaniment to three-course accoutrements, and the Stud Club has an unbeatable view overlooking the track.

The races themselves challenge the best thoroughbreds of South African horse racing. 18 races span the two-day event—Friday is distinguished by the Cartier Sceptre Stakes and Saturday is crowned by the Queen’s Plate. The titular race assembles the top 16 thoroughbreds and jockeys in South Africa for the champion title, and the winner’s circle instates the champion with a garland of blue and white roses as they prance proudly before the crowd.

But the social atmosphere doesn’t end with the horses untacked and the races over—the Queen’s Plate has made a tradition of after parties to round off each race day. Friday’s festivities meld seamlessly into the LQP Garden Party, where guests enjoy a harvest table lunch and L’Ormarins Brut that flows as freely as the ambient live jazz. But it’s the Saturday evening after party that has become the event’s legendary grand finale. Featuring top local DJs and flowing late into the night, it is always one of the best parties of a South Africa summer.

After a weekend of celebrations, rest and relaxation is in order. L’Ormarins attendees will find the same historic pomp and circumstance from the Queen’s Plate at the nearby Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, where the scent of victory roses persists along the fragrant rose-lined pathways and gardened grounds. This turn of the century architectural marvel painted petal pink for peace in 1918 may not fit the blue and white color scheme of Cape Town’s most highly anticipated horse race, but it does offer the Old World charm and timeless elegance that the Queen’s Plate embodies. Suites boast balcony views of majestic Table Mountain behind and the sparkling Atlantic beyond. Summer salads are served with champagne under light of chandeliers at Lord Nelson Restaurant, and tailored treatments can be found at the Librisa Spa. A perfect evening might entail cocktails on the balcony at golden hour, where guests can soak up the last rays of sun and toast to a great day at the races.

The L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate has become one of the world’s most elegant and esteemed horse races, attracting royal attendees to watch the sport of kings since its inaugural regal patron, and a crowd of the well-heeled social elite. It has offered the very best of South African horse racing , and indeed some of the best racing in the world, for going on 160 years.