Flat Racing from Newmarket...

[gmen]

A trip to 'The Home of Racing' for the first Newmarket meeting of the flat racing season. Here are some of the day's images:

The bookmakers set up before the meeting...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az001.jpg

...and they're off!

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az006.jpg

Down the hill on the Rowley Mile...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az004.jpg

...watched by a big crowd...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az005.jpg

...and the TV cameras!

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az002.jpg

On towards the finish...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az012.jpg

...and fighting it out for first place.

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az009.jpg

The bookies had a good day (as usual!)...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/az013.jpg

[skyphix]

Great shots!

I hope to get to Saratoga Raceway (NY, USA) this summer/fall for some photos.

[gmen]

Great shots!

I hope to get to Saratoga Raceway (NY, USA) this summer/fall for some photos.
Cheers skyphix! Hope you enjoy your visit to Saratoga... I have to say that horse racing certainly makes for a variety of images...

[Mazza]

Fantastic shots!!

My husband and I own a racehorse (well, a share anyway, lol). I would love some advice on taking racing photos. I have an EOS 300D, but I am very new to digital SLR photography. I need advice on what setting to use and shutter speed etc.
Please, talk to me like i'm an idiot, lol, its the only way I will understand.

[gmen]

Thanks Mazza - glad you like the pics!

I was shooting at around 1/1000s, f/4 at ISO500 for the main action shots.

A shutter speed of 1/1000s is certainly high enough to freeze the motion of the horses - although you could work at a lower speed of, say, 1/500s and still get acceptable images.

On the 300D, you might be wise to use the Tv mode and set a shutter speed of 1/500s or higher. The camera will then calculate the aperture to give the 'correct' exposure. This means you can concentrate on getting the shot whilst letting the camera do some of the work for you! I always shoot in manual mode but there's no harm in using the semi-automatic Tv mode.

The key factor in getting the 'best' shots is probably going to be where you are shooting from. The closer you can get to the course itself the better. As an owner, I'm sure you'll be able to get good access. If you can shoot from near the rails rather than from the stands, this will increase your chances of nailing a good pic. Not to say that good images can't be made from other vantage points, but you'll need to be content with 'wide' views of the course rather than 'tight' crops of the runners and riders.

If you keep your zoom cranked out to 200mm, this will help to isolate the horses from the background.

Hope this helps a little! Drop me a message if I can be of further assistance!

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Nice pictures! I like the second to last.

[Mazza]

Thankyou so much for your advice.(I have written it down). Our horse is having its first real run (has had a trial run) on the 25th April. I will definently be able to get right onto the rail, so I will just have to see how I go getting the shot. I must admit, I do get very nervous with the camera in my hand as sports photography offers such a small window of opportunity and there are noe 're-shoots', LOL.