REBECCA Davies looks ahead to this Sunday's meeting in her column below.

THIS Sunday sees the inaugural Winter Ladies Day at Hereford Racecourse, the first weekend fixture at the track since its reopening.

As you might expect for such an occasion, there are prizes for the best dressed lady, with first prize being dinner, bed and breakfast at The Verzon Hotel, a tour of the world famous Chase Distillery and the use of a convertible MINI for the weekend, courtesy of Cotswold MINI.

So ladies, glam up and come and enjoy some winter sparkle.

There are fun Prosecco packages on offer in advance to complement the day, where for just £39.99, you can enjoy two admission tickets and a bottle of Prosecco. Or, why not experience the wonderful dining experience in the Rusty Bridge Restaurant?

For just £45, we are offering a complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival and a two course carvery with a table base for the day.

On the lady theme, local trainer Venetia Williams scored a double at the last meeting with one of the winners being The Kinnersley Optimists’ Lady Karina, bred out of Lady Rebecca who was one of the most successful mares in recent times.

Venetia has long been a supporter of Hereford Racecourse and I took the opportunity last week to canvass Venetia’s opinion on a few ideas we have for enhancements on site.

Similarly, I spoke with other local trainers, including Henry Daly and Richard Lee, a former trainer whose daughter Kerry Lee now holds the licence, and one thing became obvious; ask the same question of different people and you’re sure to get a different answer every time.

However, that’s the beauty of engaging and consulting with our stakeholders.

While they may not all agree, they are all passionate about the racecourse and keen to help us ensure its long term sustainability.

A date for the diary is our Cheltenham Festival preview evening on Friday, March 3, which is on target to be a sell-out event. With the panel including champion jockey Richard Johnson, champion trainer Paul Nicholls and Cornelius Lysaght from BBC Radio Five Live, the evening promises to give you a champion’s perspective ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. Tickets are £25 and include a Herefordshire beef stew and we will also be raising funds for St Michael’s Hospice.

* Gates open at 11.20am on Sunday, with the first race getting underway at 1.20pm. For tickets, visit hereford-racecourse.co.uk