Cartmel Races’ honeymoon with the weather ran out on Monday, May 27, 1991, when a cloudburst of epic proportions hit the South Lakeland course.

But 18,800 people stood in the pouring rain and cheered as racing continued.

As the first race, the 2.15, got under starter’s orders a downpour described as a ‘monsoon’ struck and darkness fell on the crowd dressed for a summer’s day.

It was run but the second race had to be postponed.

The rain abated and the stewards began a series of 15-minute inspections of the course. Meanwhile, the Cartmel staff rallied round to spread sand on the worst-affected patches.

Racing finally got under way again with the 2.50 being held an hour later than scheduled.

Despite the rain, the atmosphere remained cheery, said one racegoer, with the beer tents full and refreshments eagerly sought after and the air remained warm.

Racing was due to go ahead again on the Wednesday of that week, with going good to soft, according to Bruce Drinkhall, assistant secretary to the course.

Among the personalities at the Monday meeting were chairman of the Tote Lord Woodrow Wyatt. Also there was Barrow’s favourite son Emlyn Hughes, the broadcaster and former soccer player.

Famous trainer Ginger McCain, who trained the legendary Red Rum, was also at the course on Monday.

Leading Cumbrian trainers who had horses running at Cartmel included Ulverston’s Roger Fisher, Gordon Richards from Penrith and Cartmel’s own Dudley Moffett.

One of Cartmel's regulars, Market Rasen's Michael Chapman, was out with the sandbags before racing and it paid off handsomely when Lafkadio won the Stanley Leisure Handicap Hurdle.

Arthur Stephenson's Dark Emperor and Laughing Lord took the last two races.

Scottish trainer Len Lungo, who had last visited Cartmel as a jockey 20 years previously, was saved a trip to Doncaster sales, when Wattle Syke, winner of the Michael C L Hodgson Selling Handicap Hurdle, was snapped up for 4,000gns.

Stan's Folly, a winner at Cartmel in 1990, repeated his success and won the Burlington Slate Amateur Handicap Chase. The gelding Roy Hobbs won the Tote Juvenile Novices Hurdle.