Getting the inside track on a day at the races

Updated 1344 GMT (2144 HKT) February 27, 2014

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Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

Alan Crowhurst has been training his camera lens on horses for 30 years. Here, the British photojournalist explains how he goes about capturing all the varied action at a day at the races.

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As Crowhurst's images reveal, a race meeting is as much about the drama off the track as it is on it. The photographer was at Longchamp in Paris for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -- European racing's richest prize -- on Sunday to capture the windmills and hats as well as the racing.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

Photo finish: Getting the inside track on a day at the races – As Crowhurst's images reveal, a race meeting is as much about the drama off the track as it is on it. The photographer was at Longchamp in Paris for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -- European racing's richest prize -- on Sunday to capture the windmills and hats as well as the racing.

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Crowhurst started taking pictures as a way of making money rather than losing it. "I used to gamble when I started work ... but then I bought a camera. I loved the idea that I gave up gambling but could still go to the races and take pictures instead," he told CNN.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A day at the races: an alternative view – Crowhurst started taking pictures as a way of making money rather than losing it. "I used to gamble when I started work ... but then I bought a camera. I loved the idea that I gave up gambling but could still go to the races and take pictures instead," he told CNN.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> "At the start, I'll probably go to the pre-parade ring just to have a look to see if there are any shadows. I'll just watch the horses go round (trying to capture) something you might not notice," Crowhurst says.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: "At the start, I'll probably go to the pre-parade ring just to have a look to see if there are any shadows. I'll just watch the horses go round (trying to capture) something you might not notice," Crowhurst says.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: </strong>Jockeys leave the weighing room during day two of Royal Ascot. "Before the race, depending on where I am, I'll have a wander around the weighing rooms, among people looking at newspapers ... just little things that you wouldn't possibly have time to do during the races," Crowhurst says.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A day at the races: an alternative view – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Jockeys leave the weighing room during day two of Royal Ascot. "Before the race, depending on where I am, I'll have a wander around the weighing rooms, among people looking at newspapers ... just little things that you wouldn't possibly have time to do during the races," Crowhurst says.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> Everything is on Crowhurst's radar. A steward clasps stable lad's armbands.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Everything is on Crowhurst's radar. A steward clasps stable lad's armbands.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: </strong>Top hats and tails are the order of the day for men attending Royal Ascot. The five-day meeting takes place every June and is one of the UK's most prestigious sporting events.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Top hats and tails are the order of the day for men attending Royal Ascot. The five-day meeting takes place every June and is one of the UK's most prestigious sporting events.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> "I like Royal Ascot a lot because there are so many people and so many things to see. It's like shooting fish in a barrel," says Crowhurst.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: "I like Royal Ascot a lot because there are so many people and so many things to see. It's like shooting fish in a barrel," says Crowhurst.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> A vintage piece of Americana parked amid Ascot's starched shirts and racing silks.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A day at the races: an alternative view – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: A vintage piece of Americana parked amid Ascot's starched shirts and racing silks.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> Runners pass the grandstand in the Ascot Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot. "You can't really go too far wrong. It's always nice colors, smart clothing," added Crowhurst.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Runners pass the grandstand in the Ascot Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot. "You can't really go too far wrong. It's always nice colors, smart clothing," added Crowhurst.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> A packed grandstand watches a tightly-bunched group of runners during a race at Royal Ascot in June.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: A packed grandstand watches a tightly-bunched group of runners during a race at Royal Ascot in June.

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<strong>Ascot, Berkshire, UK:</strong> Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh riding Novellist celebrates winning The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. "For the bigger races, I usually position myself after the winning line. I like looking head on because you might get a reaction from the jockey -- a wave of the whip, a punch of the air," says Crowhurst.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh riding Novellist celebrates winning The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. "For the bigger races, I usually position myself after the winning line. I like looking head on because you might get a reaction from the jockey -- a wave of the whip, a punch of the air," says Crowhurst.

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<strong>Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: </strong>Jockey Jospeh O'Brien riding Leading Light in the winning enclosure after the Queen's Vase during day four of Royal Ascot.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A day at the races: an alternative view – Royal Ascot, Ascot, Berkshire, UK: Jockey Jospeh O'Brien riding Leading Light in the winning enclosure after the Queen's Vase during day four of Royal Ascot.

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<strong>The Grand National, Aintree, Liverpool, UK: </strong>A bookmaker taking bets on the Grand National in April. The first official running of the world's most famous handicap steeplechase took place in 1839.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – The Grand National, Aintree, Liverpool, UK: A bookmaker taking bets on the Grand National in April. The first official running of the world's most famous handicap steeplechase took place in 1839.

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<strong>Aintree, Liverpool, UK: </strong>Runners making their way past the grandstand at Aintree. Crowhurst prefers jump racing because of its unpredictable nature. A horse that is 10 lengths clear can always fall at the last, he says.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Aintree, Liverpool, UK: Runners making their way past the grandstand at Aintree. Crowhurst prefers jump racing because of its unpredictable nature. A horse that is 10 lengths clear can always fall at the last, he says.

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<strong>Aintree, Liverpool, UK: </strong>Horses and jockeys negotiate the famous Bechers Brook fence during The John Smith's Foxhunters Steeple Chase. Crowhust took four cameras to Aintree in April, this year. "I had three remote cameras and one in hand which sets off the other three. They're only jumping once, so you've got to make the most of the oportunity," he says. "You get nice shapes in jumping as well when (the horses) stretch."

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Aintree, Liverpool, UK: Horses and jockeys negotiate the famous Bechers Brook fence during The John Smith's Foxhunters Steeple Chase. Crowhust took four cameras to Aintree in April, this year. "I had three remote cameras and one in hand which sets off the other three. They're only jumping once, so you've got to make the most of the oportunity," he says. "You get nice shapes in jumping as well when (the horses) stretch."

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<strong>Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: </strong>This curious image of a racegoer at Cheltenham taken in November 2012 is one of Crowhurst's favorites. "I just happened to see him," Crowhurst says of the man whose head is all but invisible behind his cupped hands and binoculars.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: This curious image of a racegoer at Cheltenham taken in November 2012 is one of Crowhurst's favorites. "I just happened to see him," Crowhurst says of the man whose head is all but invisible behind his cupped hands and binoculars.

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<strong>Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK:</strong> Barry Geraghty rides Bobs Worth to victory at the Gold Cup in March 2013. Cheltenham racecourse is Crowhurst's favorite place to take pictures of jump racing. "The sun's the right way, you get good horses and good quality races and it's out in the country -- you can shoot against the Coltwolds."

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK: Barry Geraghty rides Bobs Worth to victory at the Gold Cup in March 2013. Cheltenham racecourse is Crowhurst's favorite place to take pictures of jump racing. "The sun's the right way, you get good horses and good quality races and it's out in the country -- you can shoot against the Coltwolds."

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<strong>Punchestown, Ireland: </strong>Runners make their way through "Joe's Water Splash'"at Punchestown racecourse in April.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – Punchestown, Ireland: Runners make their way through "Joe's Water Splash'"at Punchestown racecourse in April.

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"If it's there, I'll try and do something different. The beauty of working for Getty (Images) is that they allow you to do it," says Crowhurst. To view more of Alan Crowhurst's portfolio <a href="http://alancrowhurst.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Photos: Photo finish: A day at the races

A year at the races – "If it's there, I'll try and do something different. The beauty of working for Getty (Images) is that they allow you to do it," says Crowhurst. To view more of Alan Crowhurst's portfolio click here.

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