Annual Report

2021 ANNUAL REPORT www.racecourseassociation.co.uk Contents Who We Are Recovery: Rebuilding The Sport For A Positive Future 1 4 RCA Board 4 Each department of the RCA sets out their teams’ work as 5 The RCA Executive Structure part of the 2021/2 Operating Plan: 6-7 The RCA Values 16-17 Racecourse Services Report 18-19 Racing Report 20-21 Raceday Experience & Communications Report 22-23 RaceTech Report 25 Racegoers Club Report 26-27 Finance Report Setting The Agenda Financial Reports 2 8-9 Chairman’s Welcome 5 28-33 RCA Financials 10-11 Chief Executives Report Lockdown: Collaboration COVID-19 & The RCA 3 12-15 A Timeline of key activity from the pandemic mapped 6 34-35 RCA Working Groups against the RCA and British Racing’s Response 2 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 3 The RCA Board The RCA Executive Structure Maggie Carver Chairman Maggie Carver Charles Barnett David Armstrong Chairman Vice-Chairman Chief Executive David Armstrong Large Independent Racecourses Chief Executive Andy Clifton Caroline Davies Paula Mohabi r Racing Director Racecourse Services Finance Manager Director & Business Analyst Holly Cook Paul Swain Racecourse Services Raceday Experience Manager & Communications Martin Cruddace Hazel Peplinski Pat Masterson Manager Arena Racing Company Independent Racecourses Independent Racecourses Kevin Walsh Tabitha Killingbeck Matt Jones Jackie Tizzard Racing Executive Racecourse Services Raceday Experience Finance Executive & Communications Administrator Executive Carol Walker Mary-Ann Sandercock PA To Racecourse Racegoers Club Services Manager Jonjo Sanderson Nevin Truesdale Independent Racecourses Jockey Club Racecourses 4 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 5 The RCA Values Our Purpose We pride ourselves on the quality of our work The Racecourse Association was formed in 1907. We serve the interests of our 59 member racecourses and the information we provide. to empower them to be the best venues they can be. It is our privilege as the representative of Our aim is to provide leadership to and representation of racecourses across a multitude of areas and racecourses to be trusted to deliver excellence. serve as a frontrunner in the governance of the sport. We are guided by the principles of excellence and innovation across all areas of racecourse administration. The RCA takes pride in sharing best practice, faultless research and a warm welcome to those we work with. The Racecourses Our members are spread the length and breadth of the country and include some of the world’s most We challenge ourselves and racecourses to iconic sporting and leisure venues. consider fresh perspectives and source original, As the theatres upon which the drama of our sport is played out, racecourses play a vital role in the overall quality research to support our arguments and ensure our output remains contemporary. success of the sport. As businesses, racecourses provide a significant source of employment across the country. As neighbours, racecourses are a beacon to inspire the local community and affect real change. The RCA is a front-runner in the governance of British Horseracing and is part of the tripartite leadership structure. We strive to further the reach of racecourses and the sport across a multitude of areas. Since 1907, we have served the interests of our member racecourses. We bring together 59 racecourses to speak with one voice and work equally with each. Our events are renowned for their warm welcome and inclusive nature where all voices are heard. 6 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 7 Racecourses, the RCA & the Pandemic Research shows that ‘cruelty’ is the second biggest I fervently hope that the excellent report Chairman’s reason why people don’t come racing. It should provided by the HWB will be followed through. The last year has been mainly concentrated on not take, as it has done, five years from the time I Welcome supporting racecourses through the pandemic. first raised it at the Members’ Committee, to get a In 2019, after many years of sterling service we Maggie Carver As we know, racecourses were badly hit. The RCA whip review. Finally, on structure, our industry is a said goodbye to Stephen Atkin and welcomed responded by ruthlessly cutting its own costs patchwork of autonomous businesses which need David Armstrong who has been a tower of including some substantial voluntary reductions to co-operate to an unusual extent. No single body strength since he joined. in salary to enable us to reduce fees without hitting ‘runs’ racing. This complexity, which extends to its our small reserves too badly. We set up weekly unique funding structure, inevitably generates a Together we have spent much time defending racecourse-wide calls and daily bulletins to keep number of representative organisations, each the rights of racecourses, including their right everyone informed and solve problems. We liaised with their own legitimate, sometimes divergent, to run their businesses without too much with our industry partners and government in interests, which makes decision-making difficult interference and unnecessary expense. response to the twists and turns of each lockdown and cumbersome. More evidence-based decision and provided advice to racecourses on the making, refinement of the Members’ Agreement, The RCA team meanwhile have made plenty operational consequences. The normal workday and greater clarity of roles between the BHA’s of progress themselves, in addition to their and weekend did not exist. Thanks to the wonders regulatory role and its leadership role (the latter established functions. New initiatives during of Zoom, the RCA Board were able to meet requiring the active participation and support of this time include marketing and data projects frequently to respond in a timely way to the the Members) would be very helpful. with Two Circles, a new system for owners and decisions that needed to be taken. I would like to trainers entering racecourses, partnerships with extend my deep gratitude to the whole RCA team Reflections respected third parties to challenge antisocial and the Board for their exemplary effort. behaviour, environmental initiatives such as Throughout the last six years, the RCA and its one to eliminate single use plastics, new work Industry Priorities partners in the industry have been working on streams to address diversity and inclusion these problems, with some progress made. including disability, the development of our As this is my last report, I hope that The survival of the industry thus far has been a One of the first things we did was sign the Members’ award-winning Showcase event, and most you will indulge me in not only looking mammoth joint effort with everyone playing their Agreement. Whilst by no means perfect, this has recently new projects on bulk purchasing. back over the last year, but also over part. However, racecourses’ finances have been provided a framework for decision-making. the last six years at some of the RCA’s particularly badly hit due to the lack of crowds and Levy reform and the proposed Racing Authority Given Covid restrictions I have not fulfilled my achievements alongside a personal this will undoubtedly affect their ability to invest in were major projects. The latter did not ultimately ambition to visit all racecourses in my last 15 perspective on the priorities for the the short to medium-term. We are now at a point come to fruition but as part of it, the RCA played a months as Chairman, but over my tenure I have industry in the future. where, with the prospect of returning significant leading role in setting up the Betting Liaison Group hugely enjoyed visiting the vast majority, most numbers of racegoers, we need to set the industry (BLG), the betting data warehouse and latterly, the at least several times. It still gives me a thrill to priorities. These are, in my view: revenue generation; Betting Innovation Group. The BLG has already go racing and I am deeply grateful to all those welfare; and structure. catalysed changes to fixtures which have provided racecourses that have kindly welcomed me. many millions in revenue to the sport. RaceTech, the I am in awe of the work done by racecourses Taking revenue generation, this is not just about RCA’s outside broadcasting and media subsidiary, and the quality and dedication of all staff in our levy reform this is also about self-help. It is about negotiated a new contract with RMG and gained industry – many of whom, including our own generating new betting products, maximising the TRP as a new client giving it national coverage once Caroline Davies who celebrated thirty years at utility of the fixture list, attracting more racegoers, more - a transformational step forward for the the RCA this year, have given decades of service. and improving the offering to owners. On welfare, company. The pressing need for racing to respond I would like to give my profound thanks to the I believe that much good work is done in this area, to the perception problems of horse welfare, such Board and our Members for their support, it has both human and equine, but as we know from recent as the use of the whip, led to the RCA playing a been a great pleasure and a privilege to serve, events in Ireland the image of racing is fragile and we leading role in setting up the Horse Welfare Board and I wish the whole industry every success in the need to act with urgency. (HWB) and in appointing an independent Chair. future - I will miss it. 8 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 RCA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 9 Rapid Response & Pivot Sports Technology Innovation Group (STIG) and Industry Matters Chief Executive’s latterly the Events Research Programme (ERP). In February 2020, the RCA’s Medical, Veterinary, British Racing has been at the forefront of these Amongst the tripartite leadership team of British Report Racing & Turf Management Conference quickly groups which manifested in us being amongst the Racing we welcomed Julie Harrington as the David Armstrong became the first Covid-19 response meeting.

Load more