June 2018 CONTENTS
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www.racecourseassociation.co.uk June 2018 updatenewsletter CONTENTS Welcome 03 Raceday Experience Group 05 05 Showcase & Awards 2018 07 Racecourse in Focus 08 Did You Know ... 09 Groundstaff Courses 09 Racing Department 09 Badges & Pass 2018 10 Racegoers Club 11 Sponsorship 12 On Track 13 Five Minutes of Fame 15 ARC Acquires Ffos Las 16 RaceTech 17 BHA 18 GRR 19 GBRI 20 Racing Foundation 21 Racing to School 22 Racing Together 23 Racing Welfare 24 The Thoroughbred Club 25 Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc. 25 Watt Fences 27 Pitchcare 28 Duralock 29 PJA Pro Am 30 11 Diary Dates / Contributors / 31 Staff Contact List 17 19 2 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page WELCOME British Summertime is upon us—although you might not have noticed yet thanks to the flash floods! Words by Paul Swain As we enter into June the flat season Free’ national piece which is fronted really steps up a gear with the second by the hilarious David Walliams and round of classics, The Oaks and The Billy Jenkins. My colleagues and I were Derby, at Epsom Downs swiftly followed fortunate enough to attend the launch by Royal Ascot. I’m sure all within the of the campaign at Sandown Park sport are as excited as we at the RCA recently and can safely say that judging are about these magnificent events by the reaction of the room, with ages and are looking forward to seeing ranging from 4-74, David and Billy’s what new initiatives the racecourses five-part guide to horseracing will go have developed this year to continue down a treat. You can read more about to raise the customer experience. the campaign later in the edition. The RCA team in particular are at The biggest challenge that racecourses fever pitch given our build-up to Royal will face in the coming months is Ascot started three months ago as the continued scrutiny of racegoer the Windsor Enclosure is built literally behaviour. As I’m sure you will have around our offices! seen, recent high-profile incidents Of course, all racecourses have their have propelled horseracing into the premium days and the summer season mainstream media for the wrong lets plenty of other racecourses reasons and the RCA has supported the ‘End Your Day on the Right High’ have their time to shine, welcoming its members with numerous interviews campaign to deter racegoers form thousands of happy racegoers. over the past few weeks. Racecourses bringing illegal substances on site. Musselburgh’s famous Stobo Castle host world-class events and welcome Ladies Day is one that always catches six million racegoers a year, the majority The behaviour which marred the eye as does the long-standing of which have a fantastic experience racedays earlier in May is, thankfully, Saints and Sinners evening at Hamilton and regularly return. very rare but has shown that we Park. cannot be complacent in meeting Much work has been done to combat these challenges. Plenty of work has The RCA has enjoyed seeing some of antisocial behaviour and in particular happened behind the scenes in recent the eye-catching marketing collateral the past four years has seen the weeks and will continue to do so. to promote this summer’s racedays development of our partnership with The RCA is as committed as ever to which is testament to the great work of Drinkaware and national responsible ensuring racegoers can enjoy a day’s racecourse marketing teams across the drinking campaign ‘Pace Yourself’. More racing as it should be enjoyed—with country. recently, the RCA and its members friends and family, enjoying top-class have been proactive in tackling illegal The biggest campaign of the summer is service , racing and maybe even picking substance abuse and have launched unquestionably GBR’s ‘Under 18s Race a winner or two! 3 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page NEWS FROM THE RCA The latest from the RCA, with a look at the Racecourse in Focus and the Sponsorship figures for May 2018. 4 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page RACEDAY EXPERIENCE FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO GROUP KNOW FROM REG... May Executive Summary & Actions Words by Paul Swain Antisocial behaviour… the clue is in the name Attendees: Good Ideas Roundtable Antisocial behaviour on racecourses has recently been subject to some high-profile attention. Racecourses are fantastic sporting venues and provide millions with fantastic days out each year. We will not tolerate antisocial behaviour at our venues. The Group held a roundtable discussion to share best practice in how they 1. have reacted to this news and what measures can and have been taken to ensure the safety and enjoyment of Caroline Davies (Chair) Horses for courses with changeable Ilona Barnett (Stratford) marketing campaigns for different a day at the races is not compromised. The RCA will disseminate the outcome of this with all racecourses. Rob Boobyer (Newbury) media… Parade Ring management to Richard Conroy (Ascot) enhance presentation on TV… High vis Alex Eade (Goodwood) clothing for all security staff… nudge David Fraser (Harrison:Fraser) theories to assist with customer Fraser Garrity (Chelmsford City) migration…new trackside picnic “Perfection asks for perfection” Richard Hammill (Pontefract) enclosure…most stylish racegoer Sir Nick Faldo’s quote describing the Masters at Augusta National sums up why it is renowned worldwide as Steve Parlett (Kempton Park) awards for each Saturday raceday… being one of the best sporting events. The standards set by the Masters brand are reflected through every Hayley Plimley (Uttoxeter) bringing the history of the racecourse touch point, including the patrons themselves. The Group examined best practice from the Masters and Paul Swain (RCA) to racegoers with bespoke activities 2. looked at how some of the initiatives could be applied to racing to encourage good behaviour. There is so much Sophie Yates (Harrison:Fraser) (Uttoxeter's Love Clay tent)... to be said for a clean, calm environment and giving customers responsibility to self-police their event. Did you know there’s a dedicated section of the RCA website regarding the Raceday Experience Group? Visit us here to see who’s currently part of the Group, some of our key work and the dates of our next meeting. If you’d like to attend a meeting or U18s Race Free learn more about what we do, please contact Paul Swain. Have you heard the one about the Britain’s Got Talent judge, best-selling author, BAFTA winning comedian and his rising-star YouTube-sensation son? David Walliams and Billy Jenkins have launched GBR’s national U18s Previous minutes of the Raceday Experience Group can be downloaded from the 3. race free campaign to great fanfare at Sandown Park’s Brigadier Gerard evening with a series of short sketches members’ area of the RCA website. promoting the U18s race free message. The campaign will run for the rest of 2018 with key focus periods around school holidays. Showcase is ready to launch The 2018 Showcase & Awards will launch in the coming weeks with a guide encompassing all you need to know to make the most of your submission and the event itself. This was based on feedback from the Group. The 4. RCA Executive would be happy to visit racecourses over the summer to assist with planning for the Awards. All roads lead to Bath The Raceday Experience Group is going on tour! Our next meeting will be held at Bath Racecourse followed by a tour of the refurbished facilities and an afternoon of racing. We’re excited to visit and would like to thank 5. Russell, Maddie and the team for their help in organising. 5 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page 6 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page SHOWCASE & AWARDS 2018 7 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page IT’S THE RACECOURSE IN FOCUS With racing every two weeks at Haydock Park, this summer has something for everyone. Sparkling moments, filled with fabulous Flat racing, live music and entertainment make for a perfect day out Words by Grant Rowley with Paul Swain races for the Ascot Gold Cup was held. Saturday 12 August is HaydockPark Ladies Day featuring the Rose of Lancaster Stakes and Haydock’s ladies only race. Off the track, Ladies’ Day is filled with fashion, style and music and the Style Stakes competition with ITV’s Vernon Kay spinning the decks after racing. Haydock Park completes a wonderful summer of racing with arguably one of the most exhilarating Flat racing fixtures in the calendar, Saturday 8 September sees the sprinting superstars compete side-by-side for the coveted 32Red Sprint Cup. With such a busy summer ahead, the Haydock Park team are Haydock Park started their summer Saturday 7 July sees one of Haydock confident there’s something for Saturday series with a bang on 12 May Park’s feature racedays, the Bet365 Old everyone. “We’re fortunate to have for Pertemps Swinton Hurdle Day – the Newton Cup. This is one of the most such a varied programme of racedays only Flat and Jumps fixtures in Britain. prestigious racedays in Flat racing and at Haydock Park, including plenty of On Saturday 26 May Haydock Park the Old Newton Cup is the last tangible Saturdays when we can welcome enjoyed their biggest attendance of surviving link between the original thousands of racegoers” stated the season at The Family Day with the racecourse two miles from its current Jason Fildes, General Manager for Forces featuring the Armstrong Group location at Haydock Park. In 1899 the the Jockey Club North West region. Temple Stakes - a spectacular day both race was run at its current home at a “The Haydock Park Summer Saturday on and off the track with the fastest value of £400 and today its race value Series is a concept we’ve built over five furlong horse in Europe, Battaash is £60,000, run over a mile and a half a number of years, reflecting the winning the Armstrong Aggregates course at the annual July meeting.