Fontwell Park racecourse opened its gates for the first time 91 years ago today.

The popular track near Chichester, the country's only figure-of-eight racecourse, has come on leaps and bounds since the first meeting on May 21, 1924.

A spokesman for the course said: "There was a huge crowd at the first meeting on May 21 that year.

"Those who became club members could enjoy the gardens Fontwell founder Alfred Day had laid out over many years, which included a maze in the style of the one at Versailles, and relics from other stately homes.

"What had been a farmhouse became Fontwell House, the members’ restaurant. In keeping with the garden-like setting, the grandstand and the weighing room were built with thatched roofs.

"The inaugural race was won by the 5/4 favourite Gem, ridden by champion jockey Fred Rees. It was a warm, humid day, the first of a two day meeting, and some of the stable lads refreshed themselves so much they had to be put to bed still wearing their boots."

Fontwell was the course where Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, notched her first winner as an owner when Monaveen won the Chichester Handicap Chase in October 1949.

Since then, amongst other accolades, a new £6.5m Grandstand opened in Fontwell's Premier Enclosure in August 2010.  The new facility includes a panoramic hospitality lounge for 350 people on the middle floor, twelve boxes on the top floor and a ground floor suite with new catering and betting outlets. The stand has been designed to cater for weddings, conferences, meetings and public shows.

Fontwell's next meeting - the Equinity Big Bank Holiday Family Raceday - is on Sunday. As well as an exciting card of racing, fun and frolics are promised in the form of kids' favourite Peppa Pig.

Fontwell marketing man Marcus Gear said: "Gates open at 12:30 and the first race is at 14:20. You can still purchase tickets in advance from £12 or £17 on the gate, kids under 18 go Free. We will have plenty of entertainment on the day including a funfair and rides, face painting, zorbing, pony rides and of course Peppa Pig and George, all of which is free throughout the day."