And those involved in the Sport of Kings reckon Stan Clarke is making a right royal success of turning Brighton back into a winner.

Clarke's company, Northern Racing, took over the decaying track 13 months ago following a deal with Brighton and Hove Council.

They have spent £1.5 million since January on improvements to the 216-year-old course.

Clarke knows it will never be another Goodwood or Ascot. But punters flocking to see the first meeting of the season were impressed by the revamp.

Patrick Bolton, from Brighton, declared: "They have done a really good job. The facilities are much better."

Clarke has a strong football connection. He used to be on the Board of Stoke City and St Modwen Properties, the jewel in his business crown, built the Second Division club's Brittania Stadium.

Appropriately the first winner of the day, Seazun, is trained by ex-England international Mick Channon and owned by a Celtic fanatic, which explained the green and white hooped colours worn by jockey Richard Quinn.

Channon's assistant Ray White said: 'It's always good to have a winner here. She might turn out to be a Royal Ascot filly.

"There have been a lot of changes to the course and they have done a good job."

Lewes trainer Julian Poulton prevented a double for former footballers in the next race. His 33-1 outsider Celtic Venture returned from a long injury absence to beat ex-Portsmouth striker Mick Quinn's Johnny Staccato into second.

The weather did its bit for Clarke. The wind was blowing, but the morning gloom gave way to bright sunshine, prompting a change in the going to good to firm after the second race.

Brighton's turns and undulations make it a test, even for the best.

Top jockey Frankie Dettori said: "It's always nice to come here. The people are friendly, but the track is still hard work!

"It's tricky to ride. You have got to have six sets of eyes."

Dettori's in-form rival Quinn found it easy enough. Caernarfon Bay, trained yards from the course by Gary Moore, completed a 40-1 double for the rider on Sunday of Moiava, the French favourite for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Quinn landed the spoils again for Channon in the fourth race on Mansa Musa for a 303-1 treble.

Acrop of generous priced winners, including Brighton specialist Alpen Wolf, and the defeat of John Dunlop's odds-on shot Lucky Gitano meant the bookies' satchels were bulging.

The flamboyant Barry Dennis, a regular contributor to Channel Four's popular Morning Line, said: "The track has not been thriving over the last few years, but the new governor appears to have put a lot into it. I was pleased to see a big crowd and I hope everything goes well for them."

Everything certainly went well for Clarke, Quinn and Moore. Mutabassir, owned by Clarke, trained by Moore and ridden by Quinn romped home in the last race - a perfect end for the racecourse chairman.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.