A prize worth more than £1,000 will be awarded to the best-dressed female, as one of the UK’s most unique racecourses holds its inaugural Ladies Night.

The event – for which The Mail is the headline sponsor – will see thousands of people head to Cartmel Racecourse in May.

It is the only evening racing event in the venue’s 2019 calendar and will also see guests get the chance to dine in the exclusive surroundings of Rogan at the Races.

Racecourse director Steve Cooper said: “We are really excited to once again be joining forces with The Mail to put on a fantastic evening of racing, family fun and fantastic food.

“The fact this will be the first Ladies Night we have ever hosted means there is a real buzz in the build-up to what will be our only evening racing action this year.

“We have put a great prize package together which we hope will inspire racegoers to go to town with their outfits.

“Tickets are priced from just £5 and children are free, so whether you are a group of friends looking for a great night out or a family in search of some Whit week action, we look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful racecourse.”

Scouts will be working the paddock and course enclosures and handing special tickets to ladies who have dressed to impress.

There will then be a grand finale, when the best-dressed lady will be crowned.

The winner of the competition will get a fantastic prize worth £1,150 which includes 15 paddock tickets to the Monday, August 26, Bank Holiday meeting, a party tent for 15 people, 12 bottles of Prosecco, pizza and a barbecue lunch.

There will be a number of options for guests looking to make the evening extra special. The racecourse’s Louis Roederer restaurant has just been revamped, while a tie-up between Simon Rogan’s Rogan & Co will see a glass-fronted restaurant built alongside the final furlong, from which Michelin-starred food will be served.

The first of seven races is expected to get under way at 5pm, with the last race at 8.30pm.

The usual funfair will be in full swing for youngsters to enjoy, while as ever, barbecues and picnickers are welcome. Tickets are just £5 for the course enclosure and £10 for the paddock enclosure.

Cartmel racecourse lies just outside of Cartmel Village centre which has won a reputation as one of the UK's best-loved foodie hotspots. The Michelin-starred restaurants L’Enclume and Rogan & Co along with a selection of charming shops and pubs make up the village centre.

The gates of the racecourse open for the first time as the Whit holiday meeting gets under way on Saturday, May 25. There is a subsequent meeting on Whit bank holiday Monday, May 27, and then Ladies Night rolls around on the evening of May 29.

To enter the competition visit https://www.nwemail.co.uk/competitions/promo/