HORSE RACING: THE head groundsmen at Bath Racecourse like to keep it in the family. At least they have done for the last 100 years.

For after the current job holder Ron Hogston retires later this year, it will be his son Andrew who takes over.

Just as Ron did from his father George, and George did from his own father John.

The Hogston family connection to the job goes all the way back to before the First World War when there was racing just a couple of times each year.

Ron said: "I'm not sure when my grandfather John started the job, but my father was born in 1911 and he told me his earliest memory was being taken in a pushchair to the racecourse where his father worked. And that must have been before the outbreak of the First World War."

John Hogston continued in his role until his death a year before the outbreak of the Second World War. Ron's father George then took over until retiring in 1975, when Ron succeeded him two years after joining the groundstaff.

Son Andrew, who celebrates his 30th birthday tomorrow, has been on the groundstaff for the last seven years.

Tuesday is the final fixture of the year at the racecourse, and therefore Ron's last before Andrew takes over. He formally retires four days before Christmas.

Since the early 1950s the head groundsman has lived in a bungalow beside the grandstand at the racecourse.

Said Ron: "It goes with the job. I shoved my parents out when I took the job and now Andrew's having it, Indeed he's already in the house."

Ron's wife Liz, who works at the racecourse on racing days, is also retiring. But the couple will not be moving far, into a house just half a mile away.

So what, according to Ron, is the secret of keeping the racing surface in such good condition on Lansdown hill where horse racing at Bath takes place.

He said: "Well we don't have an issue with artificial watering unlike other racecourses because we have no facility for that as we are so high. Natural rainfall gives us a great surface. The going does become quite quick in a dry spell of weather, but there's a lot of give in the ground so it's fine for the horses.

As long as one tends the grass well, cuts it right and don't feed it too much, it remains in excellent condition."

The Hogstons as head groundsmen may go back 100 years., but the racecourse itself goes back further. There has been racing at Lansdown since 1811.

The first race on Tuesday is due off at 2.30pm, with the last at 5.30pm.

Admission is £17 to the premier enclosure, £11 to the grandstand and paddock enclosure, and £7.50 to the centre course family enclosure. Car parking is free. Accompanied children under 16 enter free.