Belstane trainer Keith Dalgleish backs a permanent racetrack in Clydesdale

All smiles...Keith Dalgleish and his Belstane Stables team

ACE Carluke horse trainer Keith Dalgleish would support any plans for a permanent racetrack being established at Overton Farm in Crossford.

Dalgleish (30), who trained a Scottish record of over 60 flat race winners last year, reckons having the track open throughout the winter – rather than the current arrangement of two meetings every February and March – would be “a great idea”.

He said: “It is a great location at Overton; nice and flat and nine furlongs.

“It would be ideal if we had a racetrack close at hand, because travelling down to England to places like the all-weather at Wolverhampton is a long trek for us.

“I’ve been to a couple of the point to point meetings at Overton Farm and they were very enjoyable with good ground for racing.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.