Turf topics: Glorious exit with great memories

When he became managing director at Doncaster in the summer of 2006 his task was to oversee the completion of the 32m new stand and associated projects, which included making the racing surface the best in the country; now he is heading for Goodwood in a similar capacity and is relishing the prospect.

"My first meeting will be the 'Glorious' at the end of July," he enthuses, "and that sums up exactly what Goodwood stands for: quality. It's an unbelievable place in a fantastic part of the world.

"Of course it will be different to Doncaster. Ladies' Day at Goodwood will, I imagine, be rather different to Ladies' Day on Town Moor but will be something new to experience, as will my involvement with the motor-sport side of the Goodwood estate.

"Working for one of the country's largest independent courses will also be a new experience after a decade with Jockey Club establishments followed by four years with Arena Leisure.

"I've had discussions with the people at Goodwood and I'm sure I can do a few things a little differently down there, make a few improvements and put my fingerprint on the business."

Waterworth went into racecourse management straight from Leeds University, where his degree was in economics and management, working first at Newmarket then under Edward Gillespie, the man who makes Cheltenham tick. Then came seven years at Huntingdon and a six-year spell at Haydock Park before he landed the key role at Doncaster.

He leaves Town Moor with great memories and the odd pang of regret. "Obviously the St Legers were the highlights but the first, in 2007, was the most disappointing for me from an operational point of view," he says.

"Two weeks before the meeting we didn't know whether the new stand was going to be ready and the work put in by the team was unbelievable but we weren't quite there.

"The outstanding memory was of Frankie Dettori doing the flying dismount from Conduit the following year then kissing Sir Michael Stoute, who had just completed his first St Leger success. The pictures of that moment will be shown whenever the St Leger is mentioned; they have become part of racing's heritage."

One thing that Waterworth will miss in his new role will be National Hunt racing – "unless I can persuade them to add a few hurdle races to the 'Glorious' meeting," he quips – and he is rightly proud of the progress he has made to Doncaster's jumping fixture list.

"At the end of 2007, we sat down with all the National Hunt trainers in Yorkshire and asked them what we could do for them.

"Their response was that the North in general was short of novice chases – Newcastle and Wetherby had both lost fixtures – so we came up with a Grade Two event.

"We have had four Cheltenham winners and three or four who have done well at Aintree run here," he says, "and in my opinion the SkyBet day here is the best day's jumps racing in Yorkshire – it was a great pity, probably the biggest disappointment of my time here, when we lost the last SkyBet meeting to the weather but you cannot control that."

Mark Spincer has been appointed managing director at Doncaster, joining Arena Leisure from Newcastle racecourse where he has been executive director for the past two years.

Murphy confident over poker de sivola

Ferdy Murphy is in bullish mood as Poker De Sivola bids to give him a fourth success in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr today.

The West Witton handler has saddled Paris Pike (2000), Joes Edge (2005) and Hot Weld (2007) to take the extended four-mile contest and this year's representative arrives on the back of victory in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

"We've had no problems with him since Cheltenham and everything is grand," said Murphy. "It's going to be quite quick ground but this lad should be fine on it. He definitely has a decent chance and I think he's a justifiable favourite."