Plumpton Racecourse once again delivered an Easter weekend to remember.

The course staged its annual Easter Festival, drawing more than 9,000 race-goers from far and wide for two days of thrilling racing and family-friends entertainment, writes Emily Gailey.

From start to finish, Plumpton’s £300,000 Easter Festival showcased some of the finest racing talent, with a Premier Raceday on the Sunday bringing local faces as well as horses, jockeys, and trainers from afar, all bidding to win a portion of the days £200,000 prize pot.

It wasn’t just about the racing – Plumpton went above and beyond to ensure that families had a weekend to remember.

From face-painting and donkey rides to inflatables and petting zoos, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Plus, the chance to meet retired racehorses and hear tales of racing stardom at the retired racehorse stable.

The day blended top-class racing with family fun and a generous dose of Easter spirit.

Chris Gordon was the man of the moment on Sunday, taking three wins out of the seven-race card including bagging the £75,000 feature race, The BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle, where Our Champ powered clear with Rex Dingle.

Chris and Rex had already struck in the opening 2m Maiden Hurdle race with King William Rufus and Sea Invasion fittingly won the BetGoodwin Master Trainer Chris Gordon Handicap Hurdle under son Freddie Gordon.

It was a double for Paul Nicholls swiping The Goodwin Racing Phone Betting Handicap Steeple Chase with Fame and Fun under Bryony Frost and the Jockey’s championship leader Harry Cobden bagged the winner in the last, The Strong Flavours Catering Handicap Hurdle with Emailandy.

Monday saw Plumpton’s first airing on ITV with the first, and indeed feature race of the day, the £50,000 Bob Champion Cancer Trust Sussex Champion Handicap Steeple Chase.

Five percent of all advance picnic enclosure sales for the Monday were donated to the trust, who Plumpton have a historic close relationship with. Bob Champion himself joined racegoers on Easter Monday to watch Scarface and Brendan Powell take the win for Joe Tizzard.

Monday’s Raceday also paid homage to legendary Jockey Jamie Moore, who has recently announced his retirement.

Plumpton has anecdotally been a special course for the Moore family, and it was clear that Plumpton feel similarly fond of Jamie as a race was named in his honour and a presentation held for him.

Jockey Bradley Harris did a double on Monday by winning the Gordon and Angela Ashdown Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase on Hilltown for Seamus Mullins before beating the field aboard El Muchacho in the David Slater Big 7-0 Birthday Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase Current leading Champion Jockey Harry Cobden had a second successful day, giving Kaituna River a great ride in the William Hill Epic Value ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle for trainer Alex Hales.

Overall, Plumpton Racecourse’s Easter Festival was a resounding success with the perfect Easter weather to match! They now look forward to their next raceday on Sunday 14th April for their Sussex Raceday