The weather was kind to the thousands of racegoers who flocked to Scone on Wednesday for the opening day of a two-day meeting.
Many will be staying on in the area to return for the second day of racing, providing a welcome influx of customers for hotels, restaurants and bars in Perth.
Before the start of the afternoon’s racing champion jockey Richard Johnson and Perth Racecourse chairman John Gellatly cut the ribbon at The Lodge, a new £2 million accommodation and stable complex which has just opened for business.
They were joined at the opening by chief executive Hazel Peplinksi, former general manager Sam Morshead and George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Stable Staff.
The 26-room facility and 40-cover restaurant will be much used by stable staff during race meetings and the general public during the rest of the year.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s a fantastic facility at Perth for the stable staff but also a top facility in Perth to stay outwith racing.
“I’m sure The Lodge will be truly appreciated by the hard-working stable staff after the hard graft of a race day and it’s perfect timing that it’s opening during Stable Staff Week.”
Mr McGrath followed suit in praising the investment, saying: “Perth are leading the way in stable staff accommodation with this new facility. “
The new development is part of an ongoing investment in Perth’s facilities aimed at creating new revenue streams for the racecourse.
Bookings for The Lodge are flooding in for forthcoming race meetings as well as for other events like the Scottish Game Fair and Rewind.
The gates open at Scone on Thursday at 12 noon with the first race scheduled for 2.10pm.
