DESPITE the recent scorching temperatures, it was great to see all 94 stables safely occupied at Worcester last week.

It follows measures introduced in similar heat during 2015 and includes significant additional water available in all areas for both the horses and racing staff, plus additional veterinary cover.

We have the benefit of being able to irrigate the track sufficiently to produce safe, good ground.

Alcester trainer Dan Skelton has been a big supporter of Worcester again this year and his four year-old Alcock and Brown has run at the course three times in four weeks, posting a second and two wins.

Richard Johnson, celebrating his 39th birthday at Thursday’s raceday, made it one to remember by producing Noel Williams’ Authorized Too on the line to beat recent course winner, Destiny’s Gold and give Williams his first winner from his new yard in Blewbury. Johnson leads Sam Twiston-Davies by two points in the jockey’s table.

Claines trainer Richard Newland is enjoying a successful spell and brought a large syndicate of owners from the Value Racing Club to enjoy watching their horse Trafalgar Rock follow up his recent winning debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter with a victory in the 2m 4f novice hurdle.

The racecourse is pleased to engage with a large number of charities on a regular basis, helping to raise thousands of pounds every year through activities at Pitchcroft. We were therefore delighted to welcome Antony Lewis-Crosby to the course last week who is visiting every racecourse in the UK and Ireland in alphabetical order to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis. Thanks to the generosity of the Worcester racegoers, a further £800 was added to the total of £55,000 already raised.

Tomorrow evening’s meeting is always a highlight in our calendar.

The Pershore Plum Festival race night, first staged six years ago in 2010, features revived races steeped in Victorian and Edwardian history that date back to 1899.

The Land O Plums Chase was first run to celebrate Pershore’s plentiful supply of plums at the now long gone racecourse on Weir Meadows. The Tiddesley Wood Yellow Egg Plum National Hunt maiden hurdle and the Angel Hotel Pershore Pensham handicap hurdle also have historic significance from a bygone era in Pershore.

The race night marks the start of the August Plum Festival which highlights the strong commitment the town still has to this day, to its fruit growing heritage.

Racegoers are invited to join us in sporting the colour purple for the evening which starts with gates opening at 3.40pm for the first race at 5.40pm.