After a year of trials and tribulations, Great Yarmouth Racecourse is back on the map.

The racecourse over the last two days has held races for the first time since the track’s troubled turf put a stop to racing in September.

Over the last 18 months, owners Arena Racing Company has invested heavily to ensure the course has a first class surface.

Finally back in good condition, the turf will be home to 18 fixtures through to October.

Glen Tubby, the executive director of the circuit said: “It was great to be finally back up and running.

“The feedback from all of the jockeys and the people who have been on the turf is excellent.

“There was some real excitement to get things going again and we are happy with the crowds we were able to draw in on day one. We think there was about 2,500 people in which would be about 25pc up from last year.

“We also had to up the races each day to eight from seven there were more riders than we thought there would be.”

The reopening of the racecourse is after a near nine month absence.

A decision was made not to host the planned final two fixtures in October last year after the previous meeting was abandoned due to health and safety concerns.

It ended what was an inglorious season for the Norfolk venue, which did not reopen until August last year owing to remedial work on the home straight taking longer to finish than originally anticipated.

Mr Tubby said the move to call off the last two events of last year did not affect them too much.

He said: “We did not lose out too much money wise from the cancellation of the last two meetings.

“I think the main thing was to level the turf to make it as safe as possible and now we can look forward to a year of fixtures.”

Another day of races will take place today, and then the next fixtures will take place on June 24 and 30.

Tickets are available to book online at www.greatyarmouth-racecourse.co.uk