LADIES day at Worcester Racecourse is like no other race day in the season.

The event, which coincides with Epsom’s Derby Day, is about a number of things that are all equally important.

It is about excitement, atmosphere and celebration as the horses pound the turf. It is about bringing people and communities together, both local and from further afield to support the local economy whilst socialising with friends and family. It is also about raising funds for St Richard’s Hospice.

Thanks to the extreme generosity of racegoers and the supporters in the hospice hospitality marquee £27,000 was raised.

It was fitting that the man who succeeded triple Gold Cup winning trainer Jim Lewis as a patron of the hospice should train two of the winners on ladies day.

Richard Newland saddled Duke Street for his third chase start following a 210 day break, to win the Wright Staff Derby Novices Chase under Sam Twiston-Davies. Formerly trained on the flat by Mark Johnson, Duke Street has been with Newland since September 2015. With earnings to date totalling £81,669 he clearly has ability.

Newland also went on to win the feature race of ladies day, sponsored by Crowngate with Capitoul.

A result that caught my eye was in the concluding race of the day, the 7bets4free.com Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Maiden Hurdle. Ten horses went to post including the grey mare, Vivant whose form figures read 026p/0p-. The jockey booking was reigning champion Richard Johnson riding for trainer, Tom Lacey. It was the mare’s first run for Lacey, having had two poor runs for Harry Fry back in February and March of this year at Wincanton and Market Rasen respectively. Following a 66-day break, Vivant tracked the leader before making her move and pulling clear of the field on the run-in to win on the bridle by 16 lengths at odds of 8-1. She has qualified for the £30,000 final of the Series at Worcester in October.

Another local charity will benefit from the next race meeting to be held at Pitchcroft today when the course will stage the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust raceday, sponsored by Thursfields Solicitors, for the fourth year running. Local businesses and individuals will come together to enjoy the day of racing by the river. The gates open at 12.15pm.