A spectacular day of racing, sporting rivalry and countryside celebration took place at Croxton Park Racecourse on the Belvoir Estate on Saturday 10 October, as the inaugural Paint the Town Red race meeting raised support for the Countryside Alliance.

Organised by Charles Granby, son of the Duke of Rutland, the event brought together riders, supporters and spectators for an entertaining afternoon of racing, culminating in a thrilling photo finish and an extraordinary display of horsemanship in a fiercely contested gate-jumping competition.

The day opened with a parade of the Duke of Rutland's Hounds, providing a fitting start to an occasion celebrating the area's rich sporting heritage.

The event takes its name from one of the area's most colourful stories. Following a race meeting hosted by the Duke of Rutland at Croxton Park in 1837, the Marquess of Waterford and his companions descended on nearby Melton Mowbray, where a night of exuberant celebration reportedly saw buildings and doors daubed with red paint. The incident is widely credited with giving rise to the expression "paint the town red".

More than 180 years later, the spirit of the occasion was very much alive as competitors took to the racecourse for five races, each run over six furlongs.

The opening race, for hunters, was won by Lily Mawby, setting the tone for an afternoon of competitive racing and impressive performances from both horses and riders.

The final race provided arguably the most exciting finish of the day. Lady Alice Manners, sister of organiser Charles Granby and one of the three well-known Manners sisters, partnered a horse provided by local trainer David Easterby. Alice was wearing her family colours which, according to her father the Duke of Rutland, haven’t been worn in a race since 1828. In a thrilling contest that went right to the wire, Alice was narrowly denied victory by Benny Nott, who secured the win in a photo finish.

But the excitement was far from over.

The day's competitive action concluded with a gate-jumping competition, which saw five riders take on a 'Chase Me Charlie'-style challenge, with the height of the gate raised after each successful round.

As the competition progressed, the field was gradually whittled down until just two riders remained: Bertie Alexander, huntsman of the Peshawar Hounds in Pakistan, riding his own hunter, and Benny Nott, fresh from his victory in the final race.

Both riders continued to clear the increasingly imposing obstacle, eventually jumping above the height of the wings. With neither prepared to concede defeat, and in a wonderful demonstration of sportsmanship, the pair agreed to share the honours, bringing the day's competition to a memorable conclusion.

The Countryside Alliance was delighted to have been chosen as a beneficiary of the inaugural event, with Polly Portwin addressing those gathered ahead of the prize-giving ceremony. She thanked Charles Granby and his team for their tremendous efforts in organising the day, praised all those who participated and highlighted the Alliance's ongoing work to champion the countryside, defend rural activities and ensure the voices of rural communities are heard in Westminster.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said:

“We are enormously grateful to Charles Granby, his family and everyone involved in organising Paint the Town Red for their generous support of the Countryside Alliance.

“Special thanks must also go to all those who took part, giving up their time to prepare and compete on the day. Their enthusiasm, commitment and sportsmanship contributed enormously to making the event such a success.

“Events like this are a wonderful celebration of the countryside, bringing people together through a shared passion for horses, hounds and rural traditions.

“At a time when so many aspects of countryside life face political challenges, support like this is invaluable in helping the Alliance continue its work to protect and promote our rural way of life. We very much hope this will become a regular fixture in the sporting calendar.”

With exhilarating racing, outstanding horsemanship and a wonderful atmosphere throughout, the inaugural Paint the Town Red meeting was a fitting tribute to Croxton Park's colourful history and a hugely enjoyable occasion in support of the Countryside Alliance.

The generosity shown throughout the day was hugely appreciated, and anyone wishing to support Paint the Town Red’s fundraising appeal can still donate here.