Aintree Racecourse

All About The Horse

Hosting other Equine Disciplines at a Racecourse

@RCAShowcase Objectives

Aintree Racecourse – Not just for racehorses!

• Our objective is to run successful equestrian events under the Racecourse and Jockey Club brand • Major Equine Events held at the Racecourse include:- The National Amateur & Veteran Showjumping Championships The Premier League Showjumping Show The Aintree National Show (Showing, Show jumping, Dressage, Driving, Working Hunter, Heavy Horses and Retraining of Racehorses) The Petplan Area Dressage Festival The North West Arabian Horse Championship The Elite Showjumping Show The International Side Saddle Show The Retrained Racehorse National Championship • Enhancing the Aintree/Jockey Club brand in other equestrian disciplines outside of racing • The operation of one of the UK’s leading indoor equestrian facilities • Meeting the criteria of the grant funding with the running of a National/International show jumping competitions, as well as combining equestrianism and education

2 Delivery

• Small, dedicated, passionate team of people, boasting a wide range of knowledge of the equestrian industry, providing events that go the extra mile. • Personal service from the time of arrival for our competitors and horses until departure, including Tours, to raise awareness of racing through other equine disciplines • Beacon Racecourse – facilitate Pony Education Days, in conjunction with BHEST, which include pony rides and understanding how to care for and look after a pony • Students being given the opportunity to produce and film media material for competitors, owners and the Equestrian Centre • Demonstrations held, including ‘Horses Inside Out’, explaining the anatomy and structure of the horse • Evening entertainment - Dinner & Dances, Bucking Bronco’s, Race Nights, Hypnotists • ‘The Center Parcs for Horses’

3 Results/Anticipated Results

• Over 120 equine events held at Aintree, outside Aintree’s eight racedays • One of the best equestrian indoor venues in the country • Host of National Championship Shows, Horse of the Year Show & Olympia Qualifiers • Beacon Racecourse for Racing • World Champions and Olympic Gold medallist's compete at Aintree • Top class events, which appeal to the general public • Over 100 retrained racehorses will attend Aintree in 2015 • Aintree hosts a £1,000 Retrained Racehorse Championship, as well as The Jockey Club Retrained Racehorse Final at The RoR National Championship • Host The Aintree National Horse Show, on the racecourse in June, which attracts over 1,500 horses, ranging from miniature Shetlands to Shires and show jumpers to dressage horses. • British Record for Side Saddle High Jump, clearing 1m 90cm, which reached in excess of 250,000 views through our facebook page, within 24 hours • Achieved the highest entries in the UK for Retrained Racehorse Classes, including an entry from HM The Queen • Our Elite and Premier Showjumping Shows are noted for being the best and busiest winter shows in the country.

Combining the Equestrian disciplines with Racing • Grand National winning Jockey and winning Trainer judged at The National Show • John Hales, owner of Neptune Collonges winner of The 2012 Grand National, regularly attends events at The Equestrian Centre • Side Saddle Champions at The National Show return every April to lead in the winners on Ladies Day • Engagement with local children to partake in Aintree’s own Shetland Grand National • Heavily supporting the Retraining of Racehorses Charity 4 Supporting Information

What they say…

• Thank you for another great show. Your facilities are exceptional and staff work like trojans, congratulations Team Aintree

• Very well organised, great facilities & lovely staff! Thank you for a fab show

• Poppy and I had the best week ever and it was thanks to you guys making us feel so welcome xx You did an amazing job and it was the best show ever!!!!

• Well done, great venue, but what was most impressive was how well organised throughout, so many competitors, everything flowing, everyone on the ball, a massive thumbs up to you all!

• Fab show, we have been for four years running and it's been brilliantly organised every time, well done Aintree.

• Brilliant show....this was our 3rd year....one of the friendliest most organised venues we go to....love it

• It certainly opened my eyes and it was wonderful to see these ex racehorses looking so well and being well looked after in their “other” life. Well done to your team on a wonderful job and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening performance.

• Amazing show so well organized!!

• Simply the BEST - There is nowhere better!

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