THE sun may have shone and thousands of pounds may have been exchanged at betting stands – but it was the incredible frocks that took centre stage yesterday at Newmarket Festival. The Lanson Ladies Day, the second of the three-day festival at Newmarket R

THE sun may have shone and thousands of pounds may have been exchanged at betting stands - but it was the incredible frocks that took centre stage yesterday at Newmarket Festival.

The Lanson Ladies' Day, the second of the three-day festival at Newmarket Racecourse - and by far the most glamorous - saw thousands of women dressing to impress.

But Fenland women made sure they were not going to miss out - with a total of nine groups making their way to the Suffolk racecourse to join in the festival fun.

And there was a finalist from March in the best dressed lady competition - Sue Pyke, of Elegance Designer Wear.

She walked away with a goodie bag which included a stunning hat courtesy of Newmarket Hat Hire and tickets to Newmarket Nights with Boyzone on August 15.

Mrs Pyke, who wore a bright pink Scala dress and a pink hat, said: "When I first got to the gate one of the staff said 'your dress is stunning' and I had a number of other staff say the same.

"I was one of 10 picked, out of 15,000 people - and it was brilliant."

They were:

• A group of eight from Murrow who travelled by limo.

• Red hat ladies from Wisbech and Chatteris, who joined Red Hatters from across East Anglia for a grand day out.

• Staff from Roll Out The Red and Sublime Hair and Beauty, both in March, who enjoyed a day out in one of the racecourse's hospitality suites.

• A minibus of seven from Chatteris.

• Forty-nine people from March - all friends and colleagues of Sue Pyke, of Elegance Designer Wear.

• A group of 16 from March and Christchurch.

• The Miller family from Friday Bridge - made up of Chris and Mandy, daughter Laura and 10-week-old granddaughter Grace, one of the youngest ladies there.

• A party of seven from Whittlesey, all of whom worked and competed in equestrianism.

• A group of 14 friends, all from Wisbech, who met horse racing pundit John McCririck.

• And we bumped into Alex Salmon, from Wisbech, who was enjoying a day at the races with Carrie McKenzie.

Seventy-seven pictures can be found by following the link to our picture gallery below.