THE annual Pershore Plum Festival race night returns to Worcester Racecourse on Tuesday (August 1), turning the racecourse purple for one night only.

This well established fixture has become a firm favourite on the racing calendar, where racegoers are encouraged to don their best purple attire as there are some great prizes to be won for the best purple outfit.

Back for an eight year, the event is being sponsored by The Angel Hotel in Pershore.

The newly crowned Plum Princess and her attendants, will make their first appearance in their official roles at the event, alongside the festival mascots Prunella, Eggbert and Queen Victoria.

Racegoers will also be able to get their hands on the first crop of plums of the season. The Plum Stones will also be making their first ever appearance playing live before racing.

Following its revival in 2010, the feature race of the day is the Land O’ Plums Steeple Chase which used to be held at Pershore Racecourse before its closure during the Second World War.

Worcester Racecourse brought back this historic race after 71 years, which was first run on Weir Meadows in Pershore in 1899. This historic race features as part of a seven race card, with the first race at 5.05pm and last race at 8.20pm.

Executive Director of Worcester Racecourse, Jenny Cheshire said: “We thoroughly enjoy hosting the Pershore Plum Festival each year, and the 2017 event looks set to be bigger and better than ever.

"The Pershore Plum Festival is a great way of celebrating our county’s local produce and we are delighted to be working with the Festival organisers again this year to host the racenight and promote the festival itself taking place over the August bank holiday weekend.

"We hope racegoers will join in the spirit of the festival and come racing dressed in purple, making the day a real spectacle for all involved.

Angela Taylor, Wychavon tourism officer and chairman of the Pershore Plum Festival said: “Hosting a themed racenight at the Racecourse helps boost the profile of the festival and encourages people from all over the county to get involved, bringing people to Pershore that may have never visited before.

"We are incredibly proud of our Festival, having won the award for the ‘best festival and event in Worcestershire’ in previous years. It is a delight to bring a taste of the festival to a wider audience at the Racecourse and showcase the best Pershore has to offer.

To view the full fixture list for Worcester Racecourse in 2017 visit

worcester-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/fixtures