changes of its own. stable visits. Over the past year there have been To achieve our aims we have some major developments at The enlisted help from Club Racegoers Club and we hope you Ambassadors. I’d like to thank both are beginning to see the benefits of Richard Hoiles and Gina Harding elcome to the all- these changes. Our magazine has for taking up ambassadorial new Racegoers expanded from 4 pages last year, to positions for the club, and of course Club magazine, this edition carrying 24 pages of Tanya Stevenson, who has been a The Racegoer. The articles on all aspects of the long time supporter and committee team have been working tirelessly to industry and events to attend. member. Their knowledge, insight and support will be invaluable and I deliver you a newly rebranded club We have also worked hard to make look forward to introducing them to for 2016 and here is your first our aims as a Club clear. The members at our events throughout glimpse of the fruits of their labours. Racegoers Club is British Horse the year. We hope you like it as much as we Racing’s official supporters club do and feel it really reflects the and we aim to deliver on this for Finally, our new website is being quality and fun of our Club. our members: launched for 2016, giving you more information than ever before. As we move from the end of a Flat Be a champion for the Racegoer season lit up by some truly in all areas, including making Wishing you an enjoyable autumn outstanding performances, including sure you have a voice with the of racing, a vintage Arc claimed for Britain by industry's decision makers. Golden Horn, and our great festivals Drive support for racing at all elevated by top class horses from levels. across the globe, we look forward to the return of old favourites and the Facilitate engagement and excitement of potential new involvement of fans with racing superstars at our Jumps tracks. It is a and its participants. season of change, and fitting that the Encourage ownership through Club should also be embarking on affordable owners groups and Front Page: Coneygree storms to Gold Cup glory at Cheltenham Claire New logo reflects a focus on the horse ou should be noticing something different about the magazine by now and hopefully you’re enjoying the changes! The Racegoers Club has had a major rebrand, which we believe represents what the club is all about – high quality, fun and engagement in the sport we love, along with a long history which we are very proud of. We have acknowledged our traditions by including the date of establishment in the logo and reverting to our previous magazine name ‘The Racegoer’. We’ve also listened to what you told us in our 2014 customer survey - that the The new branding (top) echoes some of the club’s previous designs. horse was the most important thing to you about racing, so we’ve made the latest example of this is Tanya events to give you unprecedented it the focus of our club logo. You are Stevenson’s column giving us an access ‘behind the scenes’. Our the best advocates of the club and update about the Horseracing recent visit to Tattersalls Book One our sport, so we want to give you a Bettor’s Forum and how your input included an introduction from club to be proud of and shout about. can be received. Tanya will be Tattersalls, a demonstration by keeping you updated with the latest Richard Fahey of what he is looking progress of the forum and the for in a yearling and a preview of the proposed changes that come out of book highlights by our new it. We also want to hear your views ambassador Gina Harding. Members Racegoers Club members go racing, on race planning (see page 15) and even got to see the most expensive on average, an amazing 28 times per what affects your racing attendance yearling of 2015 sold – a 2.1 million year with many reporting more than and enjoyment. The opportunity for guineas Dubawi filly out of Sadler’s double that number of visits to a the club and our members to help Wells mare Loveisallyouneed, – racecourse annually. You really are improve the sport we all love really knocked down to John Magnier. We the superfans of racing and who is there, so please do put your view hope to add more events like this, better than you to help guide the forward. along with our usual mix of stable future of racing? This is why we and stud visits and racecourse want the club to ensure racegoers events, getting you closer to all the have their voice heard within the action than ever before. industry. We don’t just want to give you a We have enlisted support with our voice in the industry, the club is ambassadors, who will help to raise Continues on page four about fun and appreciation of every the profile of the club and ensure the part of the sport, which is why we voice of the Racegoer is heard. Just are always trying to broaden our From page three our owners groups). You’ll also be new merchandise (see page 23), able to download the latest carefully selected for quality and magazines to view at your leisure design, it makes the perfect or update your account details at Christmas present and is all any time. If you haven’t registered available online. Our new branding wouldn’t be an email with us, don’t worry, just complete without a new website. renew your membership online and Please email us at: racegoersclub@ Logon to www.racegoersclub.co.uk you’ll automatically be set up and racecourseassociation.co.uk with to see our brand new design. Every ready to go for 2016. member who has registered their your feedback on the new brand and email address with us will receive an website. email asking them to login for the first time and check their details. We will be constantly developing Once you’re registered you can the site, giving you more review your purchases, buy event functionality and more ways of tickets and find the latest updates on engaging with the club. One great your horses (if you are part of one of new way to do this is through our n our Spring newsletter we asked you to vote for your Jumps Racehorse of the year from a short list of Un De Sceaux, Faugheen, Dodging Bullets, Coneygree, Hurricane Fly, Silviniaco Conti, Vautour and Many Clouds. We’re delighted to announce Gold Cup wining novice Coneygree as the winner with Hennessy and Grand National winner Many Clouds a close second. In a season which saw many AP McCoy bid an emotional farewell to jump racing fans at his last Cheltenham divisions dominated by Irish raiders, Festival after announcing his decision live on Channel 4 at Newbury impressive Champion Hurdler Faugheen came in third in the McCoy announcing his retirement crowd, as he walked in after his final voting. live on air to a stunned Rishi ride at The Festival on Ned Persad at Newbury after riding Mr Buntline. The Farewell AP We also asked for your favourite Mole to a win and the reception campaign was a fitting tribute to a moment of the season and the clear provided by the Cheltenham true living legend of the turf. cut result was a tie between Tony s we reach the end of the Flat season we would like you to On an unbeaten run of 9 starts in It is hard to comprehend just how far cast your mind back to pick your races of the highest level and Frankie has been able to turn his favourite horse and moment of the described by Freddy Head as career around over the last few years 2015 flat season. amongst the best he has ever and winning The Derby on Golden trained. Solow hinted at what was Horn re-affirmed his position at the to come when brushing aside the top like none other. However it was talented The Grey Gatsby at his brilliant ride to win this year’s Meydan in March, before running Arc that capped his season and When he won the Prix Maurice de up another 4 Group 1 wins at reminded everyone of his unique and Gheest in August Muhaarar was the Longchamp, Royal Ascot, Glorious special talent. first horse since the great Dayjur 25 Goodwood & Champions Day. years ago, to tally up 3 back to back group 1 sprint wins in a season. Yet Muhaarar wasn’t done yet and added After a stunning two year old the 4th G1 to his tally, when winning season all eyes were on Gleneagles with ease on Champions day. in the 2000 Guineas where he delivered in some style before taking in the Irish Guineas and the St James’ Palace stakes at Royal Ascot. Sammy Jo celebrates Shergar Cup win Few moments of televised sport come close to the drama played out in the aftermath of this year’s St Making the most of a last minute Leger, which left racing fans call to the girls team in the Shergar Golden Horn stormed to Derby victory Cup, Sammy rode two winners on under Frankie Dettori deliberating the circumstances, rules and justice of proceedings for the 6 race card to ensure a first ever victory for The Girls team and was Winner of all but one of his 8 career long after the 11 days it took for Simple Verse to be re-instated as crowned leading rider on the day - starts, Golden Horn didn’t waste defying odds of 14/1 before racing.