A HORSE-RACING fanatic has cleared his self-imposed final hurdle by visiting all 60 tracks in England, Scotland and Wales.

The finishing line was crossed by Keith Johnson, of Aycliffe Village, County Durham, when he visited Fontwell and Plumpton earlier this year.

It has taken Keith and his wife, Trish, more than 25 years to visit all the courses, and he is delighted they have achieved what they set out to do.

The couple have even planned their annual holiday in an area where they can take in a new course.

Keith said: "Some of my earliest memories are of going to the race tracks at Catterick and Sedgefield with my dad and sitting on the rails as the horses ran past.

"Ever since then, I've been crazy about horse-racing.

"When Trish and I were courting we used to go to the local courses, but it was only after we got married and went to Yarmouth for a holiday that I decided I wanted to visit all the tracks in England, Scotland and Wales.

"Trish soon began to share my enthusiasm."

Keith, 52, said weather had been one of their biggest hurdles.

He said: "If you travel to a race-meeting, it can be disappointing if it pours down with rain, the racing is cancelled, and there is nothing else to do.

"We have always tried to build other things into our visits just in case."

But despite visiting some of the top-class courses in the country, Keith still rates local track Catterick as his favourite.

He said: "I prefer smaller courses generally, and naturally, my favourite ones are those where the sun shines and the horses I have backed win."