Patrick Davis has resigned as chief executive of Plumpton racecourse.

The 38-year-old South African, who has put the track back on the map after years in the wilderness, is returning home to head up the racing division of Phumelela, the Johannesburg company which dominates South African racing.

He said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for me and much as I love everything about Plumpton, it is too good to turn down."

Plumpton was in a poor state when Davis first took over eight years ago but today it is up with the best of Britain's jump courses.

Plumpton director Adrian Pratt said: "The quality of the racing has improved enormously because we have been able to attract better horses to the improved racing surface.

"The ground staff do a great job, we were encouraged to offer the Plumpton-Cheltenham bonus of £75,000, which in turn attracted better class horses."

Last year, Voy Por Ustedes landed the bonus offered to Plumpton novice chase winners which go on to score at the national hunt fixture.

Improved facilities for racegoers have also resulted in a steady increase in attendances.

Davis said: "You're only as good as the team behind you and there are only eight of us here full-time.

"Everyone is unbelievably supportive and that is illustrated by the fact that we have had a minimal turnover of staff during my eight years in Sussex."

Davis, whose brother Mark coaches the county cricket second team, added: "We are advertising for a chief executive and have already had some promising enquiries.

"I will oversee a handover to my successor, who is likely to have had racecourse management experience anyway so I'll be around for a month or two yet.

"I am genuinely sad to be leaving Sussex. I will miss so many friends and the wonderful atmosphere that you can only find on these intimate jumping tracks which seem to be unique to this country.

"But Plumpton will go onwards and upwards without me, that's for sure."

Pratt added: "We're going to miss Patrick and his family so much. When he arrived here he was faced with a multitude of problems to sort out at the same time as keeping the show on the road meeting to meeting.

"I can honestly say that his successor will only have to look forward with no adverse baggage to cope with.

"We wish Patrick the best fortune in what is obviously an important position in one of the major thoroughbred racing and breeding nations."