West Country course to celebrate 150 years on valuable raceday

There will be more to enjoy at Newton Abbot today than just the return of the jumps after a nine-day break, as the course will also be marking its 150th anniversary with a celebratory raceday.

The first recorded race meeting on the current site north of the river Teign took place on August 9 and 10 in 1866, and the first 200 adults and children through the gates today will receive a commemorative goody bag or bag of sweets.

The track's managing director Patrick Masterson said: "We're delighted to be celebrating our 150th anniversary and are so fortunate to be racing 150 years to the exact date of the first fixture held at this course.