WORCESTER Racecourse rounds off one of its most successful seasons in years with a two-day meeting, starting tomorrow.

Racecourse manager John Baker is delighted, saying: "Attendances are 38 per cent up going into this final weekend, which is massive really. We have had three crowds of more than 5,000 and we haven't had crowds of that size for more than 15 years.

"We have been very lucky with the weather as well and our family fun days have been successful -- it augurs well for next year."

The redevelopment of by owners Arena Leisure will start next week.

Baker added: "We are hoping the new stable block will be done over the winter, and from a public point of view, next September we hope to start knocking down the grandstand and by July 2002 the new stand will be in place."

A six-race card starts at 2.25pm tomorrow, with the feature race being the £10,000 Draper Power Handicap Hurdle at 3.55pm.

Saturday's action begins at 2.20pm and includes the Richard Davis Memorial Handicap Steeplechase, named after the Worcestershire jockey killed in a fall at Southwell in 1996.