Ripon has been named as the best small racecourse in the north by the Racegoers Club for the first time in six years.

Major work has recently been completed at the course's Champagne Bar, Wakeman Bar and Club Stand amenities.

Clerk of the course James Hutchinson told BBC Radio York: "It's a great accolade for the work that all the team here have been doing.

"That work, including the full refurbishing of the first floor of the Club Stand last winter, has probably helped (earn the award)."

We bring a lot of people into the area on our race days and hopefully bring a lot of money into the local economy James Hutchinson

Hutchinson added that attendances were "a little bit down on 2008, but we still managed a good average of nearly 5,000 people a day, which is very encouraging."

He also confirmed that the racecourse has no plans for any further major redevelopments in the near future.

"There's a small development to do this winter, but if we can get a decent couple of years (in terms of crowds) something a bit more major may be in the pipeline," said Hutchinson.

"We're surviving. I'm hopeful more than optimistic at the moment. We are still in the middle of a deep recession and maybe a day's racing is not at the top of everybody's list.

"Ripon has many great attributes, such as the cathedral and the various museums. We are very much a part of Ripon's community.

"We bring a lot of people into the area on our race days and hopefully bring a lot of money into the local economy."

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