It was a bright, if breezy, Sunday as more than 9,000 glamorous race-goers descended on Southwell Racecourse for the annual Advertiser Ladies’ Day.
A much-loved day of dressing up, enjoying time with friends and family, and trying your luck betting on the horse racing, the event attracts crowds from both near and far for a great day out.
It was busy right from the off, attendees quickly settled in on the lawn furniture both by the parade ring and the track when the gates opened at 11am, and the crowd continued to grow as it got closer to the racing action and live DJ set from Vernon Kay.
L-R Olivia Hawkins, Naomi Tivey and Maizy Tivey, of Newark, who said Ladies Day is "a good day to dress up, feel nice and spend time having fun with friends".For L-R Liv Willis, Savannah Rainey, Ella Goy, Gracie Webster, Shannon Rainey, Marcie Beadling, Harriet Webster, and Jessica Huckstep of Newark, Ladies' Day was a perfect excuse to get dressed up.
Overall, a huge 9,140 attendees turned out for the day, and the weather treated them well as temperatures hit a pleasant 20 degrees and it remained dry and sunny.
With the Pimm’s, prosecco, wine and beer flowing it wasn’t long before people were on their feet dancing along to Back Chat Brass’ renditions of well-known hits, as well as tucking into tasty picnics and taking the opportunity to snap some photos in their incredible outfits.
Plenty were also putting their looks to the test, signing up to the Style Awards which sees the winner take home a £500 cash prize.
L-R Willesli Muir, Amy Hawkins, Mason Mallett, Tom Shephard, Ruby Davidson, Millie Stott, Lewis Bilton of NewarkL-R Ashley Waterfall, Sonia Waterfall, Wendy Hall, Vaughan Hall of BottesfordBack Chat Brass entertain the crowdsThe crowds watching the racing.L-R Amelia Snell, who has been to Ladies' Day for the past two years, with friend Isabel Preston, both of Newark, who was "really enjoying" her first Ladies' Day.A glam group enjoy Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.The crowds at Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.Horses in the parade ring.L-R Helen Elliott, Emma Wilkinson, Jemma Dunkley, Lauran Oliver of MansfieldThe horses thunder down the track in the first race of the day, sponsored by the Advertiser.L-R Zoe Walters, Rebecca Botts, and Shay Penson of Kirky in Ashfield, who have been coming to Ladies' Day for six years.L-R Kirkby Klaxons running club members Adelle Oakden, Jenny Robinson, Sarah North of Ashfield, who took the opportunity to "get out of lycra" and enjoy a day out.L-R Mike Matthews, Ricky Matthews, Mark Simpson, Ryan Manley, Matthew Hamilton of MansfieldL-R Laura Radford, Rebecca Leeds, Niomi Butler, Samantha Mutter, Amelia Draycott of MansfieldL-R Steve Campbell, Anita Phillips, Pamela Sedgwick, Maxine Fenn, and Ashley Quinton-Grief of Nottingham and the Vale of Belvoir. Steve said: "For some of us it's the first time here, Maxine decided to bring us all along."
Racing action kicked off at 2.20pm — with the first of the eight-strong flat racing card being the Newark Advertiser Apprentice Handicap won by Petra Celera with jockey Ethan Jones in the saddle.
Bets were won, signified by plenty of cheering, and money inevitably lost, as race-goers were treated to plenty of thrills throughout the next seven races, including a number of photo finishes as horses came across the line almost neck and neck.
After the fifth race, it was time for the highly anticipated Style Awards, where Penelope Banton, now of Manchester but from Mansfield, took the grand prize in a beautiful purple number from Southwell’s The Dress Room.
L-R Katie Gillard of Derby, Karolina Wieczorek, Wiktoria Wieczorek of Nottingham, who were at Ladies' Day with their friends and partners for a 'couples' day'.L-R Ladies' Day regulars Kevin Tomlinson, Rachael Roberts, Rachel Senescall, and Ryan Robinson of Hucknall.Dancing to Back Chat Brass at Advertiser Ladies' Day.Winner of the first race, the Newark Advertiser Apprentice Handicap, Petra Celera.Advertiser editor Sharon Hodkin being interviewed in the parade ring.Racegoers stood trackside for the racing.A group of friends from Sutton and Kirkby.L-R Ashleigh Todd-Ellis, Lisa Ward, Jade Dilks, and Carolyn Ward of Blidworth and Nottingham, who were at the races together for the second time, for a 'girls day out'.A group from Grantham enjoy their picnic before the racing action.Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell RacecourseL-R At their third Ladies' Day in a row were Alan Smith, Ali Vaughan, Jane Marshall, John Adamson, Andy Kirk, and Liz Kirk of Nottingham, who "love seeing everyone dressed up, having a few drinks and watching the racing."L-R Margaret Gray, Shelley Hadfield, Alice Hutchinson, and Linda Gray of Ollerton, who come to Ladies' Day every year.A Ladies' Day Hen Do for bride to be, Louise Taylor, from Worksop.L-R Sophie Briggs, Debra Shaw, Stacey Briggs, Alsiha Briggs, and Amy Butler, of Mansfield, who love seeing all the outfits the races, and betting on 'the horse with the most random name'.DJ Vernon Kay with the post-race music set.Andy Swiffen and family.L-R Ian Harley, Maisie Brown, Kieran Edden, Scout Goodall, Kevin Bennett, Katie Yenn, Chloe Deneley, Jessica Wright, and Ellie Batho of Mansfield, who took the opportunity to get "dressed up and have a nice day out".Enjoying Ladies Day at Southwell RacecourseThe crowds watching the racing.
She was presented with a hat made by last year’s winner, milliner Lucy Davies, of Southwell, who owns The Dress Room, alongside the £500 cash prize, flowers, a bottle of fizz, and tickets and a table for two at the Seasons restaurant for Winter Ladies’ Day.
Penelope said: “I’m very shocked, it’s the first time I’ve ever been to the races but I’ve always wanted to go.
“What an inauguration.”
The finalists of the Style Awards with Advertiser editor Sharon Hodkin and last year's winner Lucy DaviesL-R Racy Bostock, Maria Thompson, Makayla Brown, Rachael Bostock, Natel Thurman, Katie Bostock, and Paula Jones of Derbyshire pose trackside.L-R Karen Willoughby and Steve West of Bottesford, with Sharon Antony and Andy Antony of Grantham. They had decided to come after seeing Ladies' Day advertised online, and though it had "a great atmosphere".L-R Becky Want of Buckinghamshire, Alice Yates of Bristol, Lauren Quinn of Mansfield, and Harriet Stevenson of Mansfield, enjoying a girls day before Lauren and Harriet's upcoming weddings.The crowds at Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.The winners' presentation for the first race, the Newark Advertiser Apprentice Handicap.L-R Friends Georgina Elliott of Leicester, and Ayla Merson-Davies of Collingham who were enjoying a day out with Ayla's mum.L-R Jordan Miles, Tom Broughton, Luke Combellack, Ellie Croughan, and Charlie Gray of Southwell, who were at the races to enjoy some drinks and 'lose money on the horses'.L-R Taylor Cross, Ellie Tomlinson, Jason Law, Jessica Norman, Joel Goddard, and Lavan Smith of Nottingham, who come every year and say the best thing is the atmosphere.L-R Matt Appleby, Luke Hallam, Jay Christian, and Colin King of West Bridgford, who were celebrating Matt's birthday with a day at the races.L-R Charlotte Oswin, Libby Ward, and Ebony Wray, of Mansfield, who were having a "really good" time at their first Ladies' Day.L-R Charlotte Stokes and Lisa Barlow, of Clipstone, were looking glam at the races.Crowds watch the racing trackside at Advertiser Ladies Day, Southwell Racecourse.Racing action at Southwell Racecourse.Enjoying Advertiser Ladies' Day at Southwell Racecourse.Spirits were high during racing action at Southwell Racecourse.Racegoers enjoying Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.A glamourous pair watch the racing trackside.The crowds watching the racing.Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.Advertiser Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse.Race action at Advertiser Ladies Day.The crowds enjoy the set by DJ Vernon KayEnjoying the post-race music by DJ Vernon Kay.
Once the racing was over, Vernon Kay was on hand to bring the party with a 90 minute live DJ set at the Grandstand.
Crowds gathered to sing and dance their way through the hits, drawing the day of fun to a close.
To buy copies of the photos from Ladies’ Day, go to www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk
