HEREFORDSHIRE jockey Richard Johnson may not have claimed a winner at Hereford Racecourse, but he said he was still great to be back.

Reigning champion jockey Johnson rode five horses on the day in the seven-race meeting.

"It would have been nice to have had a winner, but the most important thing is to be back here racing," said Johnson, who was presented with a silver salver by Peter Scudamore for winning the Champion Jockey Championship last season.

"It's great to see it reopened and see so many people supporting it.

"We always hoped that it would be reopened, but there's always that worry that, when something's been shut for such a long time, perhaps it isn't going to happen.

"But when we heard the news, I was delighted and look forward to be back on a regular basis now.

"We've been looking forward to this for four years, but especially for the last six months.

"It's fantastic news for racing and for me personally for being a local lad.

"I was delighted to be back and it was such a fantastic day."

Fellow county jockey Tom Scudamore also rode on the day and was in the opening race, alongside Johnson.

Scudamore finished third aboard Daklondike, while Johnson had to settle for fourth on Beau de Brizais.

Scudamore said that Hereford is a great course for jockeys to start their career.

"A lot of Cheltenham Festival winners have started their career here and I'm sure it will be supported by the trainers and the jockeys," said Scudamore.

"If we support them, then the rest will follow.

"The one thing that Hereford has always attracted is decent horses.

"Admittedly they may be in the young stages of their career, but it's always been a fair track and a great place to start for these horses.

"It was unfortunate that it closed down a few years ago, but fair play to everyone involved – it's been a long hard road to get back here and we're very proud that we're back racing here again and it's tremendous that everyone has come out to support it.

"There's four generations of Scudamores that have had winners around here and it's a place that's very much close to my heart."