IT'S Charity Day at Bangor-on-Dee and racecourse manager Jeannie Chantler is making preparations for the day ahead. CAROLINE JONES went along to chat to Jeannie about her rise to the top and to have a first-hand look at what is involved in organising a race meeting.

JEANNIE Chantler is a woman working in what is generally regarded as a man's world.

But the 47-year-old manager of Bangor-on-Dee racecourse takes it all in her stride.

Jeannie, one of only 13 female racecourse managers of the 59 in Britain, adopts a very laid back but efficient approach to management.

I met Jeannie at last Saturday's race day at Bangor-on-Dee. I arrived at the course at 7am and was greeted by an excited, down-to-earth woman geared up for a great day of racing.

Last week's race meeting was Charity Day in aid of Clwyd Special Riding Centre at Llanfynydd, near Wrexham and a great day of racing was anticipated.

So, at 7am, in Jeannie's words 'when peace reigns and all you can hear is the sound of the lawnmower', I, a horse racing novice, was eager to learn the ropes on what exactly is involved in organising a race meeting.

When I arrived Jeannie had been at the course since 6.40am, and was surprisingly upbeat after a late night out in Chester.

Jeannie's first task on a race day is to report to Radio 5 Live, giving as much information as possible on the day ahead.

And the phone starts ringing as soon as we sit down to coffee just after 7.30am.

After 7mm of rain on Friday night, owners and trainers from all the over the country begin calling. So, with Jeannie reporting the going is good to soft, soft in places and a dry day forecast, the race is on to get everything organised before the punters begin to arrive.

Jeannie chatted happily about her rise to the top as she planned the day ahead.

A trained secretary, she told me how she had been working at the racecourse since 1997.

She started-out working part-time two days a week, which led to a three-day week as a marketing executive.

After steady progression over five or six years, Jeannie became racecourse manager after the then manager left.

The horse fanatic, who has owned ponies from a young age, started her working life at Bangor-on-Dee Race-course 30 years ago when she worked as a stable girl in the local area.

She said: 'I left school and my mother did not want me to go into working with horses so I reluctantly took a secretarial course in Chester, although I'm glad I did that now! I grew up in Malpas and had worked as a stable girl in the area so I would come to Bangor-on-Dee on a regular basis.

'I've been back since to enjoy the races but it's still strange to be working here after so many years.

She added: 'It's a complex industry to learn, but I'm getting the hang of it now. I love everything about my job and I love racing. There is no aspect of my job I don't like. It's very rewarding and I feel extremely lucky to be where I am today.

'As we only have a few race meetings a year, most of the work you do is building up to these days so you have to be extremely organised. But it's not worth losing your head as you know the races will happen when they are supposed to happen and you are working within a tight time scale and when you come across problems they have to be sorted out quickly and calmly.'

Presentation, in Jeannie's eyes, is the key to a successful race day, so we head round the racecourse to see what needs to be tidied ahead of the big day.

What impressed me most were Jeannie's organisational skills and I was surprised to learn this was only her third race day since she started her managerial job.

She said: 'The job is like any other management position. As long as you can deal with people then you're fine. It's about delegating, within reason. It's about asking the best people to do the jobs which they are most suited to. You need to be pleasantly bossy and be able to delegate tasks.

'To do my job you need to know a little bit about everything involved. It's about organisation - that's key to being successful in this role.'

Jeannie is assisted by a small, but dedicated team of grounds and office staff.

She told me: 'Half the staff are in charge of the grounds and the horses and half are in charge of the administration side. 'It's important to keep the two working together to provide the best facilities and to be able to offer the best of everything for every punter.'

And the friendly banter exchanged between staff throughout the day proved there is great respect and affection among the team.

'We all help each other out to make the job easier,' said Jeannie. 'We're all in a position to sort things out and it's not worth getting stressed - if a problem occurs there is always somebody there to sort it out. We know we can rely on each other. It's a great team to work in.'

At about 9.30am things are beginning to liven up in preparation for the first race at 1.30pm.

Jeannie gives me a guided tour of the race-course and we visit the public and private bars and restaurants.

A relaxed Jeannie places posters on the walls and scatters programmes around various bars, a task which gives her a chance to walk around.

She said: 'It's great for me to have a stroll around the ground at this time in the morning. You can have a chat with whoever is about and you notice things that need to be done which other people may not notice.'

The excitement builds as horse lorries swing into the car park, with owners, trainers and jockeys holding high hopes for the day ahead.

After a welcome break of a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich it's back to work for Jeannie.

She told me: 'It's a huge buzz when all the preparations are taking place. There's a very exciting build up on a race day.'

With everything running smoothly Jeannie takes a step back to make the most of the racing.

A highlight of the afternoon is the guest appearance from Grand National winner Amber-leigh House, who makes his first racecourse appearance since his Aintree victory.

With the afternoon running like clockwork, and only a few minor hiccups, which can be expected at an event of this size, Jeannie is delighted with the success of the day, especially when the trustees of Clwyd Special Riding Centre report they have had very successful day for the charity.

At 7pm that evening the racing is over for Jeannie and her hard-working team.

A brief meeting with the catering manager, clerk of the course, the senior vet and doctor to discuss the highs and lows of the day and then it's off to the pub to toast a successful day at the races.