Newsletter Update

www.racecourseassociation.co.uk December 2019 December updatenewsletter CONTENTS Welcome 03 Marketing Services 05 06 Racecourse in Focus 06 Racecourse Technical Group 08 Racecourse Groundstaff 09 Badges & Pass 2019 10 Racegoers Club 12 Five Minutes of Fame 13 GBRI 14 Racing to School 15 Racing Together 16 Racing Foundation 17 RaceTech 18 Racehorse Owners Association 19 Pony Racing Authority 20 TBA 21 Careers in Racing 22 EBF 24 Duralock 25 TRIC 26 Diary Dates / Contributors / Staff 27 Contact List 17 20 22 2 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page WELCOMEWords by Paul Swain for keeping the show on the road return for the hot cup of tea that was and providing fantastic days out for given! racegoers. Following our final meetings of the The RCA has written extensively about year, including our Raceday Experience the day in the life of racecourse staff Forum, Technical Group and at Christmas with difference angles Sponsorship Steering Group, the RCA covered including Chief Executive, office was in reflective mood. In our Clerk of the Course and Head December staff meeting (incidentally Groundsperson. They’re definitely named the Hwfa after our founding worth another read—you can do so director, Thomas Hwfa Williams), here . each member of the team was asked to highlight their own personal and In cold temperatures this time of year, professional highlights of the year. what could be better on-course than the warming tastes of the Punjab? Our It’s been a busy year for our small Racecourse in Focus this month is a team and an exciting one too given feature on Fakenham Racecourse which the arrival of David Armstrong as Chief became the first British Racecourse to Executive, but the overriding factor open a standalone Punjab restaurant. amongst everyone was the pride and A very merry Christmas to all readers David Hunter and his team were the pleasure we take in serving the sport of Update! most welcoming of hosts and we’d urge of horseracing, working in partnership As the majority of offices prepare anyone to go and sample everything with our extended teams from within to wind down for the festive period, from the spices of the Punjab restaurant the sport and beyond plus all 59 of our British racing kicks into gear with 31 to the finest homemade cakes by Jean racecourse members. Thank you for a meetings from Boxing Day-New Year’s the Baker. Having been mistaken for wonderful year and we look forward to Day inclusive. Everyone involved, a jockey by Racecourse Doctor Piers working with each of you in 2020. from racecourse staff to racing Reinhold, the author is formally giving staff, deserves the utmost respect the shoutout that was promised in The most wonderful time of the year - Christmas at the Races - Image courtesy of Ascot Racecourse 3 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page NEWS FROM THE RCA The latest from the Marketing Services, Racecourse in Focus and the Racegoers Club. 4 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR MARKETING SERVICES SUBSCRIBERS Three pieces of exclusive content for racecourses ahead of the Festive period The RCA and GBR, in partnership with racecourses can review. Each subscriber worlds and offer a fresh perspective to Two Circles, are delighted to deliver an to Marketing Services received the PDFs racecourses. Treve Whitford (Head of early Christmas present for Marketing during the week of 9th December. Marcomms & Customer Experience Services subscribers—the latest at Yorkshire CCC), Connor Wells The awarding panel purposefully case studies from our Turbo Charge (Hospitality & B2B Marketing Manager selected a range of racecourses and campaigns and a video with three VIP at the R&A) and Harry Walkin (Head of themed days to provide the most guests from the recent workshops Marketing at the Ageas Bowl) spoke holistic review. Case studies include: crammed full of best practice. exclusively to us and you can hear what Bath’s Kids Takeover Family Raceday, they had to say in the first Marketing Turbo Charge campaigns were an Musselburgh’s Easter Saturday, Services TV here. Our sincere thanks to integral part of the predecessor Newbury’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Day, RaceTech for assisting in producing this to Marketing Services, Insight = Cartmel’s July Saturday, York’s Welcome piece. Growth, and saw racecourses apply to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, Ladies Day to be included in a series of focussed at Ffos Las and Gentleman’s Day at On behalf of the Marketing Service marketing campaigns heavily supported Chelmsford City. team, we thank all subscribers for their by Two Circles. The comprehensive support in 2019 and look forward to kick Following the excellent autumn case studies that were created as starting 2020 to help further enhance workshops this year, we spoke in further a result include a full review of the the marketing reach and capability detail with each of our VIP guests to campaign plan plus the successes and within the sport. offer further insight into their sporting areas for improvement which other Kids Takeover - Bath Racecourse the Al-Shaqab Lockinge at Newbury Racecourse Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival 5 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page RACECOURSE IN FOCUS Hunter said “We want the racecourse Eastern cuisine spices up the raceday experience in East Anglia to continue to be at the heart of the local community which is why we involve them in everything we do. The team and I want every racegoer to David Hunter and the team at Fakenham caters for everyone with vegetarian and with my food that I ordered take out so have a memorable experience, from Racecourse are always looking to vegan choices alongside the meat- my family at home could enjoy it too!” the welcome they receive to the food develop their raceday experience based dishes. Situated alongside the parade ring offerings they get to enjoy. Our local offering and the latest addition has David Hunter, Chief Executive of bar the new restaurant has quickly suppliers ensure that warm service and really added some extra flavour to a Fakenham Racecourse, said of the established itself as a must-visit great food are provided in spades and day’s racing at the East Anglian track. partnership “Raj and Rita are a joy to destination on the course. they are a key part of the Fakenham At the start of their 2019/2020 season work with and they provide a local, team”. The local partnerships don’t stop the Punjab Cuisine Restaurant at friendly, seasonal and fun service, along there at Fakenham, in fact it is at the Over at the Owners & Trainers facility Fakenham Racecourse was born, with the very best of Punjab flavoured heart of everything they do. Dotted 2019 saw Fakenham retain their ROA bringing an authentic taste of the food. They have adapted what they do around the racecourse are a plethora Gold Standard, proving that they are Punjab region to Norfolk. In partnership to fit the racecourse model really quickly, of concessions offering a range of continuing to provide an excellent with local business Currylicious, run offering reserved seating, walk-ups and delicacies from Thai cuisine to fish & experience to those with a runner at by Fakenham based couple Rajan and take-outs to ensure that everyone can chips. All of the on-site concessions are the track. The facility, fronted by Rachel Rita Verma, the new restaurant is the enjoy the cuisine regardless of their run by local businesses and residents, Hunter, offers a friendly experience first of its kind on a British racecourse. raceday schedule”. and the bars are operated by The Crown with complimentary meals, afternoon The dishes introduce racegoers to an Fakenham regular Malcolm commented Inn pub which is situated 5 miles down tea and freshly baked cake, so it is no authentic taste of India with delicate “I go racing all over the country and I the road in East Rudham. wonder that Owners who visit the spice blends taken from traditional can’t remember seeing authentic Indian Norfolk course are invariably keen to recipes that have been passed down food anywhere else. I was so impressed return. For winning connections, the the generation ladder. The offering experience is made that much more memorable having celebratory drinks and food with the racecourse chairman Rachel Hunter, Owners & Trainers area are good friends, and we keep it and mementoes of a bottle of locally manager and David’s wife, said “We relatively informal with no uniforms and distilled Archangel Gin and a handmade strive to make the Owners & Trainers casual seating. We use local suppliers glass from Langham Glass in Fakenham. area feel like a home from home for all for our food and drink offering and it our visitors. All of us who work in the is all served by local people, we like to think that our Owners & Trainers area encompasses all that is good about Fakenham Racecourse.” Upon receiving the Gold Standard David Hunter said, “We are delighted and proud to have retained the ROA Gold Standard Award once again. Credit goes to the entire Fakenham Racecourse team who have worked very hard to make our Owners and Trainers experience an enjoyable one.” Not a racecourse to rest on their laurels David and the team already have big plans for next summer when they’re looking to create a new public bar in the grandstand and course enclosure. On the horsemen side of the operation there are plans to create new saddling boxes and a new horse walkway. Away from Fakenham Racecourse there are plans afoot to head to the North Norfolk beach for a Laytown inspired beach raceday! 6 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page 7 | RCA Update Newsletter 2019 Back to content page RCA TECHNICAL GROUP The RCA Technical Group met on Safeguarding Racecourse Messenger Tuesday 26 November 2019.

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