WHEN the sun is shining, there's nothing nicer than spending a day at the races.

Sadly, for today's punters, you can no longer go and watch the gee-gees at 
Ayrshire's Bogside Racecourse.

Situated in Irvine, on the banks of the River Irvine, it staged its first meeting on June 7 1808, and its last on April 10 1965.

The course may have been the site of much earlier races, the Irvine Marymass Races, which dated back to 1636.

During its time it hosted 
the Scottish Grand National (now contested at nearby 
Ayr) and twice hosted the National Hunt Chase 
Challenge Cup which now takes place at the Cheltenham Festival.

Among the most notable achievements at the course was jockey Alec Russell riding all six winners in a day on July 19 1957.