Work to transform the equine facilities at Cartmel Racecourse, near Grange-over-Sands, is now complete following an eight-week long scheme to overhaul its complex of stables.

The improvements will ensure racehorses, grooms and trainers are provided with comfortable and relaxing surroundings on site for each of the nine fixtures scheduled at the course for 2019.

Steve Cooper, managing director of Holker Leisure, said: “The stables complex here at Cartmel Racecourse has been upgraded to make sure the horses have everything they need during their stay.

“These horses are athletes. Many will have travelled some distance and we want them to be as comfortable as possible while they are here.

“It has been a lot of work to get the facilities just as we want them, but we’re all thrilled with the results.”

The 76 stables at Cartmel Racecourse become a hive of activity on each of the nine race days held at the historic track every year.

The improvements have included a new roof and guttering to the stable building and the repainting of both the interiors and exterior - with the stable doors now sporting Holker blue, the livery of Cartmel Racecourse itself.

Four additional equine wash bays have been created to help cool and clean the horses after a race while a new surface has been laid in the stable yard to remove standing water in wet weather and minimise dust during hot spells.

New gates at the entrance to the stableyard exhibiting the Holker crest are also now in place.

Anthea Morshead, clerk to the course at Cartmel, said: “The stable yard looks fantastic, but the reason we’ve made these changes is to further champion the welfare of the horses and race staff who travel here to Cartmel - something that is exceptionally important to us.

“The whole team is now looking forward to seeing the stable yard filled with horses for our first day of racing at Cartmel on Saturday, May 25.”