Reader event: Newbury Racecourse

Place your bets: Guardian winner Shirley Holmes studies the Tote betting form after lunch at the latest of our fantastic Guardian reader events, held in association with Enjoy England. Winners enjoyed a day of VIP treatment with our deputy racing editor Chris Cook at Newbury Racecourse during the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday 27 November. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

A selection of our lucky winners leave the plush surroundings of the Mill Reef Suite VIP area to watch the Novices' Handicap Steeplechase. There is a strong racing heritage here: Newbury Racecourse opened over 100 years ago – the first meeting took place on 26 and 27 September 1905 – but there has been horse racing in the area since 1805. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Champs de Bleu is led through the parade ring before the first race of the day. Let's hope our Guardian team didn't back the gelding too heavily: it finished the Novices' Hurdle in 11th place. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Studying the form: A dapper gentleman checks the runners and riders in the betting ring. This prestigious racecourse is set to undergo a multimillion pound redevelopment which aims to make it one of the most modern and visually stunning race arenas in the world. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Young jockey Josh Hamer prepares to ride his horse Mill Side in the Amateur Riders' Handicap Steeplechase at Newbury Racecourse. Mill Side finished the race, for horses aged four and over, in eighth place. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Spectators watch the action on the track though their binoculars. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

A punter walks by the betting ring before the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. There are 31 race days held here each year. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Spectators watch the horses in the parade ring at Newbury Racecourse. Horses are paraded in two separate areas before each race: In the pre-parade ring, horses are led out by their grooms in order to get their legs limber and ready for the race. Once fully saddled, they are then taken to the parade ring – or the paddock as it is also known – where the jockeys will mount the horses and head towards the starting gates. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

A racing regular wraps up against the cold weather – but keeps his binoculars handy. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

From dressing fancily to fancy dress: a group of (pretend) jockeys chat by the track as a pair of younger race-goers dive into some chips. The West Berkshire racecourse has a varied history: Newbury was used as a prisoner of war interment camp during the first world war. 600 German POWs were interned in the camp, living in the horse stores and guarded by army reserves. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Mud flies as riders near the finishing post in the penultimate race of the day, the Long Distance Hurdle Race. The race winner, Big Bucks, was ridden by Grand National 2010 winner Tony McCoy. He's hidden just behind Kayf Aramis (green silks, left) in the red and black silks. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian

Our Guardian winners, joined by Guardian deputy racing editor Chris Cook (far left) cheer on the riders from the Mill Reef Suite at Newbury Racecourse. Let's hope they were backing the winners – they certainly look as if they had a great day. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson/Guardian