EQUINE legend Desert Orchid took horse racing back to its golden years yesterday as the industry celebrated its historic railway links.

The four-times National Hunt champion was in York to launch an exhibition commemorating the National Railway Museum's silver jubilee.

A spectacular display takes visitors back to the days when railways provided the only means of attending race meetings for horses, jockeys, trainers and punters.

One of the star exhibits is a restored British Railways horsebox, once part of a fleet used to transport racehorses across the country, but now believed to be the only surviving vehicle of its kind.

Head of the museum, Andrew Scott, said: "Horse racing is now one of Britain's most popular sports, enjoyed by thousands of fans somewhere in the country most days of the week.

"What many people don't realise is that, like so many aspects of modern life, the racing industry today largely owes its existence to the railways.

"Although the present trend is to transport racehorses by road, trainers, owners and race fans relied heavily on the rail network for around 120 years. Indeed, some courses, like Newbury, have a railway station virtually at the front gates."

As a permanent reminder of his contribution to the celebrations, Desert Orchid donated one of his shoes to the museum and it will later be used to cast a special railway-style nameplate to mark the occasion.

Among industry figures at the launch was retired jockey Brian Connorton, who was able to relive journeys he made in a horsebox as a stable boy.

Mr Connorton said: "The first time I travelled in one was from Newmarket to Goodwood. I was 15 and bunked off school to go with my father to the races - I hid in the loo until we got under way.

"Eventually, railway boxes were replaced by road vehicles, still run by British Railways, and most trainers now have their own transport. I still think the railway was the best - much quicker and easier than travelling by road."

The exhibition runs until May next year