RETIRING Richard Hughes waved goodbye to Salisbury Racecourse after appearing there for the last time on Saturday night.

The triple British flat racing champion rode in three of seven races as he now embarks in pursuit of a successful career in racehorse training.

Hughes, 42, who expects to have his first runners in the autumn, didn't ride any winners but didn't leave the Netherhampton Course empty-handed. He received two pictures as part of a farewell ceremony organised by clerk of the course and executive director Jeremy Martin.

Some of the 5,000 racegoers descended to the parade ring where they watched and listened to Hughes speak of his retirement plans.

Martin said: “It was great that Richard Hughes, our top jockey of the last seven years, came down for three rides before he retires this Saturday (at Goodwood). He now switches career to become a racehorse trainer. We made a presentation to him at which he was joined by his family."

The opening Evening Racing followed by The Chapel does Salisbury Races 80s to Now was aptly won by Nick Gifford’s Party Royal, before favourite, Classic Pursuit, landed The Party Continues At The Chapel Nightclub Handicap Stakes.

Clive Cox trained his second winner at the course for the season when the impressive and well-backed, Ice Lord, made all under John Fahy to take out The Kenneth Quested Drayson Memorial Maiden. This was followed shortly by Ian Williams’ Faithful Mount in the T&M Glass Handicap.

Richard Hannon trained his obligatory double after landing the The Derek Burridge Golf & Racing Trophies Classified Claimer with Jakodima before Steel of Madrid clinched The Bathwick Tyres British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden.

And the feature Bathwick Tyres Handicap was won by powerful owner, Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum, whose Mujassam scored cosily under a stellar Paul Hanagan ride.

Following the action, Salisbury was transformed into an open-air nightclub by The Chapel, who played hits from the 80s through to today.

Salisbury’s next fixture is on Tuesday, August 4 in what is a new addition to the calendar for 2015.

Gates open at 12pm and the first race is at 2pm.