Biggest crowd at Nottingham Racecourse for 21 years

Spectators at Ladies’ Day on Saturday numbered 5,266 – the most people to attend a race meeting at Colwick Park for 21 years.

With 600 more people than a year ago also coming through the entrances for the annual beer festival race meeting the evening before, it delighted the venue which stages racing three more times before June 1.

Racecourse general manager James Knox said: “Saturday was a fantastic occasion.

“The Premier Enclosure was sold out two months in advance – and the warm weather boosted the crowds in the grandstand on the day.

“With almost 7,000 visitors being welcomed in the space of 24 hours, we had a brilliant weekend – and there’s so much more to come during the rest of the summer.”

It comes after a good year in 2015, when the aggregate attendance across the season was up by six per cent on 2014.

On Saturday, all the best fashions that Nottingham can offer were on show, with Nottingham’s premier independent design label One BC, of Sneinton Market Square, organising the must-see fashion event of the spring and GEM 106 Breakfast presenters Sam & Amy hosting the occasion.

On the race track, one of the most prestigious and valuable races of the year – the Listed £40,000 EBF Stallions Weatherbys General Stud Book Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes – was run.

The victorious horse was Ridge Ranger, who has put herself in the picture for Royal Ascot next month.

The action on the track also featured the first qualifying races in The Jockey Club’s Grassroots Series, aimed at rewarding successful horses with generous prize-money away from the top end of the sport.

The finals day is back at Colwick Park in September.

After a midweek fixture on Tuesday (May 17), the racecourse will stage its Community Day in association with Macmillan on Sunday, May 22, including a mascots race, and Nottinghamshire Oaks Day on Wednesday, June 1.

Tickets for adults are from £13.50 bought in advance (accompanied children are admitted free of charge) and are on sale by calling 0844 579 3011 or going online at http://nottingham.thejockeyclub.co.uk.

Nottingham Racecourse is staging 23 Flat racing meetings in 2016.

More information is available at http://nottingham.thejockeyclub.co.uk.