A bumper opening day crowd of 6,734 at Cancer Research UK Family Day – up by 1,000 on last year – witnessed 2004 Grand National winning jockey Graham Lee triumphing in style in the National Hunt jockey race aboard Keisha Kayleigh.

The Fife-based Jumps trainer Sue Bradburne enjoyed her first ever winner on the flat with her four year old maiden Lochiel and it was a good day for Scottish trainers all round with Linda Perratt's first winner on the turf since moving to Belstane (Nero West) and Jim Goldie taking the last with Rothesay Dancer.

Tomorrow is Hamilton Park's first evening meeting of the new season Spring Office Party Night, featuring six races including the £14,000 Site Services (Plant) Ltd Conditions Stakes.

It has attracted strong entry with southern trainers such as P. Cole, J. Noseda and S.A. Callaghan represented, as well as the sprint king Dandy Nicholls being double-handed prior to declarations.

The meeting is the second of three May fixtures at the racecourse, setting the scene for Braveheart Night next Friday night which, after racing, will include the first live musical performance of the season in association with Radio Clyde.

Clerk of the course Hazel Peplinski said: "It was wonderful to see such a big family crowd and when the loud roar went up from the crowd as the stalls opened for the first race of the season it was enough to send a tingle down the spine – the atmosphere was terrific throughout the afternoon.

"The meetings now come thick and fast with Spring Office Party Night this Friday and Braveheart Night – the first of our Super Six fixtures – seven days later and we hope to see more new faces enjoying the racing experience."

At Spring Office Party Night the gates open at 4.05pm with the first race taking place at 6.05pm.

Tickets for the meeting and for the rest of the racing season are available through the new Hamilton Park website www.hamilton-park.co.uk or by calling the racecourse on 283806.