Desert Orchid won seven times in all at Kempton
Details have been announced of plans for a tribute to racing great Desert Orchid at Kempton Park, the scene of some of his greatest triumphs.

The bold-jumping grey, who won the King George VI Chase a record four times at the track, died last month aged 27.

Dessie's ashes have been buried near the course's statue of the horse.

A memorial headstone will be unveiled before a special race in his honour on Wednesday 27 December, the second day of the King George meeting.


Report: Racing legend Desert Orchid dies
The Story of Desert Orchid

Course managing director Paul Fisher has liaised with owner Richard Burridge to finalise details.

"Kempton Park is where Desert Orchid won four King Georges and a Racing Post Chase. He was an absolute star and we are honoured to have his ashes laid to rest at the course," said Fisher.

His ashes rest next to the lifesize statue, which already overlooks the parade ring at the track.

At 1400 GMT on Wednesday, a video featuring some of Dessie's great victories will be broadcast around the track.

Desert Orchid came down my street once on its way to the Wogan show

Kempton chairman Nigel Clark will then pay tribute to the horse in a short ceremony overseen by priest Father David Lupton.

Racegoers will be invited to observe a short silence before Burridge and Dessie's trainer David Elsworth unveil the headstone under which the galloping grey's ashes are buried.

Desert Orchid was a favourite with festive crowds at the Surrey course where the King George is traditionally the feature race on Boxing Day, part of its two-day Christmas meeting.

Officials had already planned to run the Desert Orchid Chase, which is due off at 1430, on the second day in his honour.

Away from Kempton, Dessie's most famous victory came in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he overcame unsuitable conditions for a memorable triumph.

A grandstand in one of the enclosures at Cheltenham is named after him.

There has been criticism about the poor viewing facilities at Ascot
Ascot racecourse has announced a £10m refit programme to iron out problems stemming from its £200m redevelopment.
The move follows a review carried out after Ascot's re-opening earlier this year which identified several areas that needed to be improved.

Among the changes will be the elevation of several areas to improve viewing, which was the main focus of criticism.

The refit, which includes installing a temporary 2,000-seater stand, will be completed by the end of April.

Too many people were caught up in how it looked and not how it performed

There will be amendments to the Silver Ring, which will include reprofiled lawns.

The Royal Enclosure will be extended and lawns will be regraded to increased the gradient and improve the view of the track.

The steppings and seating areas will also be elevated and the rake increased to improve viewing.

The estimated £10m cost of the work will be funded from the contingency reserve of the original redevelopment project.