My Race Days

Eliza interviews Rockabilly Jewellery designer Bete Noire at Cheltenham races

Beth like Eliza hails from the Forest of Dean. She designs in vogue rockabilly 'pin-up' style jewellery which sells to the burlesque, vintage and rockabilly crowd under the name Bete Noire. She and sister Rhiannon were having their first trip to the races and she has done some jewellery pieces with equine and racing slogans such as 'Dead Cert' , 'Fast Filly, and 'Hot to Trot'; still in keeping with the rock and roll/tattoo slogan theme. Beth and Rhiannon throughly enjoyed their day with Eliza and at the races. Beth only had one bet which finished last; but sister Rhiannon went close with a second.

add comment

About Eliza Cook

Hi! I'm Eliza. I am a Geographer by profession, and am currently studying for a PhD in Geography at Swansea University. I will be investigating ice core records from Greenland pretty soon. But you don't want to hear about those.

On top of this, during a year out, I fell into working as an in-house model for Agent Provocateur. Strange but true! This experience heightened my appreciation of fashion - especially the eclectic and eccentric fashions of the races.

I've been a racing fan for two years. I love all racing, but a day at the jumps is where I really feel the most excitement. Having grown up in Gloucestershire, with two great racecourses on the doorstep - Cheltenham and Chepstow - it is a wonder that I didn't find racing sooner.

I've been privileged to be a part of some of the 'behind the scenes' elements of racing, from photographing frosty morning breeze-ups to attending the post Cheltenham Festival jockeys' celebration in the Weighing Room!

I am thrilled to be a 'Voice of the Races'. To me, the most striking feature of racing is the accessibility of participants - and the fact that everybody attending has a part to play. A day at the races has it all; wonderful horses, spectacle and fashion, in an adrenaline soaked atmosphere where people from all walks of life come together in mutual appreciation of the sport.

I can't wait to tell you all about my experiences at the races, the people I meet and the adventures I have, as well as the fashions I encounter and the stories I uncover.

I hope you enjoy it!