On Wednesday afternoon Crystal Palace FC welcomed over 150 guests to the Lingfield Race Course in Surrey for an afternoon of first class hospitality and horse racing.

The event, which takes place every year at the famours race course, is in support of the Crystal Palace Academy.

Manager Paul Hart, Assistant Manager Dougie Freedman, Goalkeeping Coach Jim Stannard and four first team players were also in attendance and spent the afternoon mingling with guests.

"This is my first corporate event with the club and it has been fantastic; I have thoroughly enjoyed myself." Paul told www.cpfc.co.uk.

"The supporters I have met today have all been really pleasant people, and I would like to thank them all for turning out in such great numbers to support the club."

The day began with the guests arriving at the Pavilion Suite for drinks and the players joined them shortly after.

Danny Butterfield, Paddy McCarthy, Johnny Ertl  and Shaun Derry represented the first team, and the Palace skipper was keen to emphasise how important these events are in support of the football club.

"I have been to a few of these days out now and they continue to be really popular, so you have to applaud the Palace staff who put this all together and thank those who have paid a lot of money to be here because it really does help the club."

Alan Betteridge and Robert Rudd, directors of Rudrige Ltd, with their guests at Lingfield Park Racecourse

The guests were then served a three course meal before enjoying an afternoon of horse racing from the comfort of the lounge where three big flat screen televisions and a private tote provided everything they needed.

Sky Sports' At The Races Tipster Steve Watts was also on hand to take everyone through the form of the horses in all the races, which were all sponsored by the Crystal Palace guests, to give everyone a better idea of who to put their money on through the afternoon.