PERENNIAL pop star Sir Cliff Richard was one of the famous faces at the Roodee at the weekend.

Sir Cliff enjoyed the Matthew Clark Summer Festival Meeting at Chester Racecourse on Saturday on what was a glorious weekend for racing and socialising.

Chester and District Standard:

Sir Cliff chats to racegoers.

On Friday, it was the White Oak Ladies Evening with an attendence for the evening fixture of 9,512.

Chester and District Standard:

Racegoers enjoying a rooftop view.

The weekend also marked Chester Racecourse joining other racing industry stakeholders in celebrating Racing Staff Week.

Organised by Racing Welfare, Racing Staff Week runs until Saturday, July 6, and aims to champion the contribution of all personnel working within the racing industry to facilitate the running of the sport.

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The Parade Ring makes the perfect backdrop.

To mark the celebratory campaign and raise further awareness about the dedicated people who work behind the scenes in British racing, Chester Racecourse have today launched a new initiative. In addition to the complimentary meals and refreshments provided to stable staff on site on race days and cash prize for the person responsibly for the best turned out horse in advance of each race, Chester will be awarding the person responsible for handling the winning horse of each race a personalised framed memento of their day at Chester to take home.” This initiative will be continued throughout the season and replicated at our sister course Bangor-on-Dee from their Ladies Day fixture on Friday 2 August.

Chester and District Standard: Chester and District Standard:

Racegoers at the living flower wall.

Chief Executive, Richard Thomas, said: “The staff behind the scenes are the un-sung heroes of our sport and it is important that we recognise the tireless hard work that these individuals put in on a daily basis. Behind every turf champion is a team of dedicated people who live, love and breathe racing.

“We are pleased to be unveiling this new initiative at Chester today, by presenting each person handling the winning horse across each of our seven races with a silver framed photo commemorating their day at Chester. The passion these individuals have for the horses they care for really shines through and at no moment is that more evident than when a race is won.”