RACING fan Tony Whitehead has special reason to celebrate at Redcar Races today.

Tony, from St Helens, on Merseyside, first went to the races at Chester with his dad when he was just six.

He set a target to visit 60 courses before his 60th birthday, which falls on this Friday, and Redcar is his 60th.

"I made it with two days to spare, so it's perfect," said Tony, who sponsored today's fourth race, The Tony Whitehead 60 Courses At 60 Maiden Stakes.

And what made his trip to Redcar even better is that he backed the winner of his own race, Kaif, ridden by Hayley Turner (below).

"To say I'm a Hayley Turner fan is an understatement, so I couldn't resist," said Tony, who travelled to Redcar with a group of friends.