New era is welcomed in at Pontefract on opening day

It was completed at a low-key ceremony by Ian Barlow, the Yorkshire-born chairman of the Racecourse Association to the delight of Norman Gundill, the managing director of Pontefract Race Company and his staff.

With the help of a 150,000 loan from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Pontefract have transformed a building previously occupied by the Tote into a smart new office complex which means that – for the first time since 1937 – the administration of the business will all be carried out on site.

Gundill explained to his guests that his family's connection with Pontefract began with a legal partnership involving his grandfather which led to some of the race company's staff working in the offices of the solicitors' practice, the rest at the racecourse.

That arrangement continued until Gundill, the third generation of the family to be involved in running the course, stepped down from the legal profession late last year and the decision was made to have the business run on site when the office project was completed on March 1.

"The staff are delighted with the new offices and the switch has made us so much more efficient," he said after yesterday's opening ceremony during which he referred to historical evidence that racing in Pontefract first took place on the present site in the early 18th century with today's holding company being founded in 1916.

Yesterday's excellent crowd was unaware of the historic moment, having much to occupy their minds as the business of the day on the course progressed, the highlights being a facile seven-length win for Harrison George in the day's big race, the Dalby Stand Handicap, another success for Paul Hanagan who is enjoying a prolific start to the new season.

The other notable event was a stalls-to-finish triumph in the two-and-quarter mile Jamaica Flight Handicap for 20-1 chance Dan Buoy in the hands of apprentice Billy Cray.

THE 2010 season at Beverley begins with a bumper eight-race card this afternoon and Richard Fahey sends a select team in an attempt to continue his flying start to the campaign.

Fahey has chosen the Westwood to take the wraps off juveniles Glenns Princess and Above The Stars, while Layla's Dancer offered plenty of encouragement in a brief juvenile career and tackles Mark Johnston's race-fit all-weather winner Demonstrative in the Racing UK Handicap.

Fahey and Johnston lock horns again in the Whistlejackets Caf Handicap, with recent Musselburgh winner Orpen Arms bidding to defy a 6lb penalty at the expense of the Johnston-trained Always Dixie.

Dandy Nicholls launches a three-pronged assault on the feature Spring Into Racing At Beverley Handicap and last year's winner Fol Hollow will have plenty of supporters from his favourable draw, particularly as he warmed up with a third at Wolverhampton on Friday.

Brockfield beat Blue Spinnaker at Nottingham last week and the pair renew rivalry in the Rapid Lad Handicap, while Pat Eddery's Desert Recluse goes for a four-timer in the Racing Here Again Next Thursday Handicap.