WORCESTER racecourse manager John Baker has hit back at criticism from jockeys over the Pitchcroft facilities.

Both Worcester and Hereford were rated as "poor" in a survey of Britain's 59 tracks by the Jockeys Association.

But Worcester also drew praise in the survey under the heading of "best practice," through its efforts to secure sauna facilities for jockeys in the city.

Baker admitted facilities at Worcester were not the best, but said they will be much improved after a £12 million redevelopment programme is completed.

He said: "It is a limited facility. It is an old building and ventilation isn't great on a hot day.

"But we do provide a very good food service for jockeys in there. That part works very well and we are very pleased with that.

"There is nothing we can do about the building as it stands, and the jockeys do have to park in the centre of the course along with everybody else.

"But with the redevelopment plans we now have, in two years' time they will have new facilities and brilliant new changing rooms including a sauna, more showers and separate parking."

Arena Leisure, who own the course, plan to build a new grandstand, more accommodation for stable staff and a hotel complex within the next two years.

Baker added: "We had a crowd of over 5,000 for our evening meeting last week which was our biggest evening crowd ever. That is pretty remarkable considering the facilities -- we must be doing something right."

Newmarket's July course was also among the courses rated as poor, while eight courses including Ludlow were ranked "very poor." Cheltenham was one of the six "excellent" courses.