Hundreds of spectators enjoyed the new grandstand at Warwick Races, which was used for the first time on Saturday following a £3 million improvement scheme.

About 4,000 people were at the weekend races. There was a top prize of £15,000 for a handicap race – a record for a flat race meeting at Warwick. Usually the top award is about £3,000.

The renovated grandstand, which is a listed building, can now seat about 1,500 people and they get a better view of the course, where mounds of earth used to obscure part of the view.

There are five bars, all with new names, and all updated as part of the new image. But some of the original grandstand had to remain untouched, as it is listed.

Christian Leech, racecourse manager, explained it was a tight timescale to be ready on the day, although work had started 13 months ago. The safety certificate was only granted on Friday, but the public reaction has been positive.

He said:

“The feedback has been very good and everyone really seemed to enjoy it.

“We were working right up to the last minute to have it all ready, but now we not got any racing for another five weeks.

“There is far more room, and people get a better view. Before people in the grandstand could only see 50 or 60 per cent of the course, but that is probably up to 90 per cent now.

“We have a few things to look at, but we are very pleased with it.”