IT was fitting that the winner of a race commemorating the founder of Northumberland’s only surviving racecourse should hail from this very county.

Leading Otterburn trainer Susan Corbett and her family stole the show as Hexham Racecourse celebrates its 125th anniversary of National Hunt racing, winning the feature race, the CWC Henderson Anniversary Handicap Chase.

Named after the founder of the racecourse, Charles William Chipchase Henderson, the race was the one most wanted to win and it was Corbett’s stable who provided winning connections.

After finishing second at Hexham just seven days previously, Super Collider (3/1) returned to Yarridge Heights for the coveted success.

Ridden by the trainer's son James and owned by Jordan Corbett, the jockey's wife, Super Collider outpaced several other rivals in the run in to record a one length victory from Amethyst Rose (7/2) trained by Stuart Coltherd at Selkirk, and ridden by Grant Cockburn.

It was a day of nostalgia for the racecourse which turned the clock back to 1890 when the first recorded meeting took place.

To mark the occasion, staff swapped their uniforms for period costumes while some of the punters joined in the fun too. There were prizes to encourage fancy dress with Bardon Mill sisters Yvonne Reynolds and Jeanette Oliver named best dressed couple.

Blyth resident Kim White was best dressed lady, while Sherlock Holmes lookalike Michael Oubridge, of Widdrington, won the male prize.

It all added to the grandeur of the day, which was in doubt at one point due to the amount of rainfall in the week leading up to the event.

However, work from the star ground staff and a let up in the weather allowed the action to get under way as planned, with 12/1 outsider Octagon getting things off to a shock start with victory by 10 lengths.

Trained by Dianne Sayer at Penrith and ridden by James Reveley, Octagon easily ran clear of second placed Astrum (11/4) trained by Donald McCain at Cholmondeley and ridden by Adrian Lane, to win the Ramside Event Catering Novices Hurdle.

In the following Ramside Hall Hotel Maiden Hurdle, 1/5 favourite Alto Des Mottes, trained by Henry Hogarth at Stillington and ridden by Tony Kelly, gained a whopping 37 length victory from the only other finisher Harley's Max (14/1), another runner from Corbett's stable, ridden by son James.

With a winner and a second already home and hosed, Corbett sent out another runner Manballandall in the H. Malone & Sons Handicap Hurdle.

And it was a special treble as Manballandall (5/2 favourite), another ride for son James and owned by Jordan, stayed on strongly despite making a blunder at the seventh obstacle to record a three length victory from Quel Elite (4/1), trained by James Moffat at Grange-over-Sands and ridden by Tony Kelly.

The Dr Howard Scott Memorial Handicap Chase, run in memory of the course’s long serving medical officer, was by Flaming Thistle (11/2), trained by John Hodge at Cumnock and ridden by Grant Cockburn, as he saw off 13/8 favourite . Nalim, trained by Harriet Bethell at Arnold and ridden by Jonathan England, by three lengths.

The penultimate race, the Spa At Ramside Hall Hotel Handicap Hurdle, saw a repeat win for King Of Strings (5/4 fav.ourite) - trained by Mark Walford at Sheriff Hutton and ridden by Dougie Costello, from the previous week.

After claiming success at Hexham seven days previous, the winner took control after the last obstacle to record a three-and-a-quarter length victory from Retrieve The Stick (11/4) trained by Malcolm Jefferson at Malton and ridden by Brian Hughes.

The traditional bumper two mile flat race, The North East Oyster Festival In Newcastle Standard Open, saw the winner return to Hexham after recording second place over course and distance last month.

Ryedale Racer (11/4), another runner trained by Malcolm Jefferson and ridden by Brian Hughes, went one better by beating debutant under rules and well supported 6/5 favourite Smart Talk trained by Brian Ellison at Malton and ridden by Dougie Costello.

Next up in the busy 125th anniversary year is an evening meeting on Tuesday, May 26.