GLAMOROUS frocks and shades were the order of the day at a sunny Marathonbet Festival of Racing at Brighton Racecourse yesterday.

Race-goers went all out with eye-catching hats and colourful dresses for the second day of the festival – Ladies Day.

The weather was a marked improvement on Wednesday’s showers, prompting thousands of people to flock to the track for an eight-race spectacle.

Away from the turf, headline sponsor Marathonbet continued to surprise and delight racegoers by dishing out free VIP tickets to lucky guests.

Rose Alexander, 48, from Worthing, said: “It’s my third year here on the trot and it gets better each time.

“I always come with a group of girly friends and we love seeing the effort people make for Ladies Day.

“The weather has been brilliant, we’ve had a few lucky winners and I think I have even got a hint of a tan.”

Helen Moncur, 55, from Littlehampton, said: “We have never been to racing before but after today we will definitely come again.

“The kids have had a whale of a time and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

“We’re actually really lucky to have this so close to home.”

Laugh of the day came in the 3pm race which was cheekily named the Racey McRace Race Marathonbet Maiden Auction Stakes.

The bookmaker awarded naming rights to a Facebook competition winner.

Trainer Andrew Balding scored the seven furlong sprint with promising two-year-old Macaque.

The day’s feature race at 3.30pm, the Marathonbet Sportsbook Brighton Challenge Cup, was won in good fashion by the Mark Johnston trained Curlew River, ridden by Joe Fanning.

Today is the last day of the festival and with the sun forecast to shine brightly once again, it’s set to be another blinder.