THE circus rolled into town at Cartmel Races as thousands of spectators enjoyed the course’s Big Top Meeting.

Families were treated to extra entertainment away from the day’s seven races as the likes of the Acro-chaps, Miss Merlin and Andy Jester performed for the crowds.

Only the second Sunday race-day in the track’s history – after last year’s successful debut, when Cartmel became the last British racecourse to have brought in Sunday racing – saw fun-lovers young and old taking over the paddock and enclosure.

The umbrellas started going up as the afternoon went on, with showers arriving earlier than expected. But the punters were able to walk the tightrope between staying dry and enjoying the action, darting under cover wherever possible between races.

Hardy Cartmel racegoers are used to the fluctuating weather conditions at the South Lakes track and few among the estimated 5,000 crowd gave up because of a little precipitation, even if ice-cream sales did take a hit.

They could cheer on a local winner as Munsaab won the Rowleys Catering at Cartmel Handicap Chase, the winnings they took home as they backed the James Moffatt-trained mount making up for any clothes which needed wringing out when they arrived home.

Cartmel managing director Jonathan Garratt realised the weather had made an impact on the attendance, but was pleased to see people enjoying the circus entertainment before the rains came.

“It’s not going be a huge number here today, if not because of the rain itself but the forecast – we had a lot of people ringing us over the past few days asking if it would still be on,” he said. “I think that’s a reflection that the forecast was very poor.

“People really seemed to enjoy the circus though and it was all good fun. They were quite cheeky – they had lots of fun with the ladies and it gave a good spectacle for the children.”

Racing returns to Cartmel next month for another two-day meeting on July 16 and 18. Both organisers and racegoers will hope for more sun, less rain, but an equal amount of fun.