December 2016 www.racecourseassociation.co.uk updatenewsletter RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Contents 03 Showcase 03 Showcase 04 Showcase 05 GBR 06 GBR 07 GBRI 08 Insight=Growth 09 Racing to School 10 Racing Welfare 11 The Thoroughbred Club 12 The Racing Foundation 13 Racecourse in Focus 14 Five Minutes of Fame 15 HBLB 16 BHA Race Planning 17 RaceTech 18 Medical 19 Badges & PASS / Technical 20 Watt Fences 21 Pitchcare 22 11 Duralock 23 Careers in Racing 24 Job Board 25 Job Board 26 Job Board 27 Diary Dates 28 Contributors / Staff 28 Contact List 12 13 Contents RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Goodwood Racecourse’s Seamus Buckley was honoured with the Neil Wyatt Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport, which has seen more than 50 years of service, including 22 seasons as Clerk of the Course at Goodwood. The evening started with a Moët & Chandon Reception in celebration of RaceTech’s 70th Anniversary while Ascot Racecourse earlier in the day racecourses heard from a variety of speakers from inside and outside racing during the Showcase Named Showcase Seminar. With the theme of using technology to boost the raceday experience running Champion 2016 throughout the seminar, among the speakers were ITV Racing – who Ascot Racecourse was crowned who took the honours for their stunning outlined their vision for the sport Champion Racecourse for the second Bi-Centenary Celebration Raceday when they take over as the terrestrial time in three years at the 2016 RCA which included a visit from HM The broadcaster on 1 January 2017. Showcase & Awards event. Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Maggie Carver, Racecourse Association The RCA Showcase & Awards, Elsewhere the Best Campaign Award Chairman, said: "All of the winners have partnered for the first time in 2016 by went to Newbury Racecourse for shown an exceptional commitment Moët Hennessy and held at Doncaster their Al Shaqab Lockinge Day 2016 to providing outstanding customer Racecourse, celebrates excellence Campaign, labelled ‘Best Day Out by a experiences at their racecourse. Well and innovation across the raceday Mile’. done to the winners and especially the experience. team at Ascot Racecourse who have All About The Horse was won by once again showcased the very best in Ascot excelled across the board, taking Pontefract Racecourse and Aintree excellence and innovation throughout top honours for Digital and Social Racecourse claimed the Racing the year." Media Excellence and Operational Together Community and CSR Award Excellence. They also won the Dual for the second year running. Juliet Slot, Commercial Director Purpose Racecourse Groundstaff at Ascot Racecourse, said: "We're Award and were Finalists in the Owners’ Food and Beverage winners were absolutely delighted and it's a great Experience category. Cheltenham Racecourse for the honour to be Champion Racecourse outstanding variety of offering available two years out of three. It's testament The Owners’ Experience Award went in the new Princess Royal Stand. to the work of the whole team across to Chester Racecourse though while the racecourse and it was fantastic to the overall Racecourse Groundstaff The #TopSpot award went to Beverley be listed as Finalists in a wide variety of Champion was Cartmel Racecourse. Racecourse for the phenomenally categories. Our thanks go to the RCA popular Donkey Derby and the Racing and we are very humbled to accept this The Events Award was one of the most Post Readers Award for outstanding award." hotly contested categories this year customer service was taken by Bath and it was Musselburgh Racecourse Racecourse. 3 Back to content page RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Bath - Racing Post Readers’ Award Seamus Buckley - Neil Wyatt Lifetime Cartmel - Groundstaff Champion Achievement Award The Winners Chester - Owners’ Experience Pontefract - All About The Horse Ascot - Operational Excellence Newbury - Best Campaign Aintree - Racing Together & CSR Musselburgh - Events Ascot - Digital / Social Media Beverley - #TopSpot Cheltenham - Food & Beverage 4 Back to content page 5 Back to content page RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Great British Racing #JockeyChamps Stobart Champion Jump Jockey, Richard Johnson has become the latest rider to be put through the interview wringer in the Great British Racing Kids vs Jockeys series. The leading jockey was interrogated by a fearsome threesome comprising of his three children Willow (eight), Casper (five) and Percy (three), but was rewarded with a miniature version of the recently commissioned Stobart Champion Jockey trophy – which is his to keep. The video was featured on the Sunonline and you can watch the cheeky interview on our YouTube channel here. With the festive season fast- approaching and most of us over- indulging, we’ve taken inspiration from some leading jockeys who will be preparing for a busy Boxing Day to create a healthy Christmas lunch that’s completely satisfying without worrying about over doing it! Richard Johnson, Tom Scudamore, Leighton Aspell and Lizzie Kelly told us their favourite low-calorie recipes and how simple it is to cook these meals at home. You can watch how to re-create these dishes on our YouTube channel here. Hanisa North 6 Back to content page RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Great British Racing #NotKidding Following on from the success of the campaign which promoted the kids go free messaging during the summer holidays, Great British Racing is re- launching the #NotKidding initiative, focusing this time on the school Christmas holidays. New marketing collateral and an animation have been created and feature on a refreshed landing page. The campaign kicked off on 6 December, with social media advertising across Facebook and Twitter. There is a supporting PR campaign, which will aim to encourage families to get out of the house during the festive period and enjoy an affordable day out with family. In The Paddock The GBR Advent Calendar is back! Racefans will shortly be able to access the new To celebrate the festive season the Great British InthePaddock.co.uk to explore the racing clubs and Racing advent calendar is back again with its biggest syndicates in their area. The site, which is supported by giveaway yet. the BHA and ROA, aims to promote the thrill of shared racehorse ownership and includes a unique feature which Prizes have included a giant Galileo Gold, 2000 allows users to find GB-based syndicates and racing clubs Guineas picture and tickets to the King George to suit them, by searching by, code, location and cost. VI Chase at Kempton. There’s still plenty to come including Jim Crowley’s riding weight in chocolate, a The website will also provide users with useful breakfast with Grand National-winning trainer Oliver information about the first steps into ownership, along Sherwood followed by a morning on the gallops and with a clear set of guidelines and things to consider when 2 VIP tickets to British Champions Day 2017. entering into racehorse ownership for the first time. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to be in All GB-based syndicates and racing clubs have been with a chance of winning! contacted and invited to upload information on their services so that they can be featured on the site. Hanisa North 7 Back to content page RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Great British Racing International GBRI Members Club With 2016 coming to an end, it’s time their visits, from airport transfers to to look back on another successful hotel stays, especially with the Club’s year of the GBRI Members Club. In partners. partnership with the Racecourse Association (RCA), the Club An increase in members of 6% ensures that international owners compared to 2015, the GBRI can experience the best the sport Members Club this year comprises has to offer when they visit GB, of 209 international owners from in recognition of their valuable 43 different countries who between contribution to British Racing. them own over 2,000 horses in training in Britain, both Flat and Jump. In order for a trainer or bloodstock agent to nominate a member, the This year, 54 trainers and bloodstock international owner must have at agents nominated international least one horse in training in Britain owners to the Club, which is also As ever, we would like to take this yet have their primary residence up 6% on last year, illustrating how opportunity to thank all courses outside of the British Isles. valuable the Club is perceived to be in for their support of the initiative the eyes of industry professionals. and their wonderful hospitality. When they would like to go racing in the British Isles, members of the Club International owners have used If you have any feedback or contact Bobby Jackson who then in the Club on 112 occasions, ranging questions regarding the GBRI turn liaises with the racecourse in from Ayr to Ascot, Newcastle to Members Club please do not order to organise up to four Owners Newmarket, and members have hesitate to contact Bobby & Trainers badges as well as any consistently been treated to the very Jackson on 0207 152 0132 or hospitality that the international highest of service from racecourses. bjackson@greatbritishracing. owner is interested in purchasing. com, we would be delighted to Bobby is also able to assist members hear from you. in organising additional parts of Bobby Jackson 8 Back to content page RCA Update Newsletter December 2016 Insight = Growth Growing Horseracing Attendance Through Insight-led Customer Marketing The Insight=Growth Planning Workshops are now done for the year and the number of racecourses that the team have seen acting on previous insight and achieving results has been incredibly encouraging. Whether it’s first price being best price, segmenting racecourse communications to drive retention or simply playing the weather, the evidence of change has been clear to see and that’s been a real boost for the programme going into 2017.