The Pitmen's Derby is regaining some of its old pulling power, as Bruce Unwin discovered at the weekend.

THE sun shone, the champagne corks popped and the racing fizzed to give the punters a great day at the races.

It was the North-East's biggest meeting of the year, and to those in the know the Foster's Northumberland Plate day is returning to former glory.

A 27,000-plus crowd packed into High Gosforth Park - 5,000 up on last year and the highest for a quarter of a century - as the Pitmen's Derby meeting proved its pulling power across the social divide.

Such was the size of the crowd that many racegoers were still pouring on to the course long after the 2.10 Kronenbourg Maiden Stakes, the first race on the card, having fought their way through traffic jams on the northern outskirts of Newcastle.

They were greeted on arrival with foot-and-mouth disease troughs and mats, a reminder that Newcastle lost six days' racing earlier in the year at the outset of the epidemic.

But it was now pay back time for the course, as the meeting gained the Cumberland Plate on Thursday, as its traditional venue at Carlisle remains out of bounds due to the lingering effects of the virus west of the Pennines.

The meeting got better as the week went on. Thursday's racing was a bonus, the traditional Friday evening card attracted a 22 per cent higher crowd than last year, and Saturday's success rounded it off in style.

It was day of spectacular colour, both on and off the course, befitting its tag as the "Royal Ascot of the North".

The fillies really were resplendent, and not just the equine variety.

Ladies' fashion and dress stores across the region must have made a mint as the colourful summer frocks were out in force, all invariably under an array of lavish head wear.

The hats ranged from elegant to the almost garish, with many of the wearers sporting dark shades to shield the sun's rays and the glazed eyes as the champers took its toll later in the day.

Most of the best frocks were to be seen in the 45 hospitality boxes and marquees, and in the Members' and Tattersall's enclosures, both sold out for the day.

Along in the Silver Ring, it was much more of a mix, a real day out for all the family.

Racecourse general manager Grant Knowles said Plate Day had become a prime date in the region's social calendar, a place to see and to be seen in.

Corporate clients have until Friday to register interest in next year's meeting, or risk losing their pitch.

A smattering of North-East celebrities were spotted around the course, among the most recognisable being ex-Newcastle United footballers Peter Beardsley and Darren Peacock.

There was also the familiar Sherlock Holmes-figure of the larger-than-life TV pundit John McCririck, who was on duty with the Channel 4 racing team.

A renowned Newcastle fan, he was as happy to discuss the Magpies' recent misfortunes as offer punters the benefit of his advice over who would win the big race.

Business was brisk for the 70-odd on-course bookmakers, many of whom took a battering in the second race of the day.

But a couple of higher-priced winners left honours fittingly even, and there were smiles all round by the end of the day