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: 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 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, , and . We’re delighted to announce Gold Cup wining Coneygree as the winner with Hennessy and 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. much time in teaching Frankie the winner. Dettori a lesson for siding with Jack Hobbs in the Dante. Frankie For anyone shrewd enough to follow certainly did not need telling twice Ryan as he clocked up an and Golden Horn duly provided him Sole Power and Richard Hughes unbelievable 9 wins at Royal Ascot were made for each other, so it was with a magnificent Derby win, this year, maybe voting for this feat fitting for Sole Power to provide followed by an Irish Champion is a way for you to show your Hughsie with his last G1 winner in Stakes and runaway win in the most appreciation for his un-relenting the saddle, when wining at the competitive Arc for many a season. talent. In doing so he surpassed the Dubai World Cup meeting in th record of 8 winners achieved by Pat March. Aged 8 it was the 5 Grade Eddery and Lester Piggot, just A credit to Ralph Becket, Simple 1 of the evergreen sprinter’s career, failing short of Fred Archer’s all- Verse started her season as early as which has seen him win or finish time record of 12 – in 1878. the 8th of April this year and won 5 second at G2 level or above for the last 5 seasons. Cast your vote at https:// of her 6 starts including the St Leger racecourseassociation.wufoo.com/ and Champion Fillies and Mares forms/horse-of-2015/ or on the form Stakes on Champions Day. at the back of this magazine. t is a very great pleasure to become involved again with the Racegoers Club and I especially to write a few lines for a magazine whose pages I used to scour intently for Ten to Follow updates as a teenager. Drawn to racing as a child through visits to Plumpton and the awe of watching horses soar over fences out in the country, but with no ‘horsey’ background the Club played a The Racegoers Club helped to fuel Richard’s passion for racing and encouraged crucial part in both developing my him to explore opportunities to work in the industry interest and ultimately being able to expense of those who want to Orange would be someone who I find an avenue to working in the explore more fully the various would work with regularly for many sport. intricate areas of the sport and the years through his role of Go Racing Whilst qualifying as an accountant, challenges they provide. The in Yorkshire PRO and mine as quiet moments in weekend classes beauty of the Racegoers Club is Racecourse Commentator? Our sport would be spent scouring the green that it can provide an opportunity thrives through the wonderful and white voucher books, which I to harness and develop that interest spectacle it provides, the intellectual was delighted to learn still survive, through the newsletters, visits, challenges it involves and the whilst planning future excursions ownership groups and different dedication and passion of its around the country. My first visit to social functions. Whether it be supporters. The Racegoers Club is a racing yard came on a Racegoers someone like me attending a first the ideal way of continuing to Club trip to the late John Webbers at ever stable visit or a well seasoned develop all three and for me Cropredy Lawn where I still racegoer having a welcome base personally provided a route into the remember Mid Day Gun jumping during the scrum of the sport which I otherwise would never round a loose school consisting , the club can have had the confidence to pursue. mainly of tyres and also patting the significantly improve a member’s With Christmas around the corner it nose of Kelly’s Honor, a particular enjoyment of the sport whilst also provides the ideal present for anyone favourite at the time. providing a social opportunity to with even a passing interest in the meet people who you will still be sport and hopefully can continue to , like many sports, saying ‘hello’ to a generation later. convert those butterfly channel spends a great deal of time trying to hoppers into life long supporters of Who would have thought that my convert a new audience. In these the best sport in the world. days of butterfly attention spans arch nemesis of those Ten To however this zeal can often be at the Follow days a certain Mr Graham ur Richard Fahey trained duo of Clouds Rest and Showbizzy have kept the Club Owners Group members well entertained in recent months, with the pair making three appearances each during August and September. Showbizzy made her eagerly awaited debut at Ripon on the back of some impressive work at home. Her inexperience showed but she ran a decent race to finish 4th and was next entered in a big field maiden at York, where again the occasion seemed to get the better of her. However she displayed a tantalizing glimpse of the promise she has shown at home when finishing third at Nottingham. Now qualified for Clockwise from top: Showbizzy comes home third at Nottingham, owners with handicaps on an attractive mark, her Kieran Shoemark at Bath for Clouds Rest and Showbizzy parading before her race trainer is reviewing whether to put at York her away to strengthen some more over the winter. She is a beautiful, big filly who can only benefit from another year to mature and she provides much to look forward to Chilly Miss was unable to follow next Spring. up her win at Cartmel in August on her next two starts and after a niggle was found at home, which could explain her weaker last two runs, she’s been put away for her break during the winter. She’s been a star for her owners from the Spring to the Autumn, running 8 times since March, including two Clouds Rest ran a great race at places and a win and will be back Thirsk and put up another gallant again for us with Malcolm effort at her beloved Beverley before Jefferson in 2016. Having won on an uncharacteristic below par effort her last two seasons for her share at Bath. owners, we can rely on her to give Altogether they have raced 10 times her very best again next year. this season, giving all our members Right: Chilly Miss after her win at lots of enjoyment and great days out. Cartmel in July. Pic:P.Serviour e offer the choice of two unraced fillies with lovely pedigrees and unbound potential. Both are under the care of top trainers in the form of Malcolm Jefferson and Philip Hobbs; who have been fantastic trainers for the Club in previous years and are both lining up for an exciting season ahead. As with all the young horses we lease, members joining the group have the chance to name them and will have first preference to renew their interest in the horse the following season, providing the Our new filly is a half sister to Attaglance, winner at the Cheltenham & Aintree opportunity to dream about their Festivals. potential and stay involved throughout their racing careers. Chilly Miss. She’s by Virtual, a wins and 9 places. His most notable young dual purpose sire, out of a wins came at the Cheltenham mare called Our Ethel. Her Dam is Festival and Grand National meeting a half-sister to 4 winners and at Aintree in 2012 but he may well herself won a bumper, but the be most remembered for just being paddocks have proved to be the pipped at the post at the Cheltenham scene of by far her most successful Festival in 2014 in an agonising accomplishments. Of the 5 of her finish. Only one of Our Ethel’s progeny who have raced, 3 of them progeny have retired without have been winners with this filly’s managing to win, which is a great half-sister Ethelwyn, on the brink lineage for her youngest filly of of making it 4 from 5, with 4 places racing age to follow. so far from only 6 runs. The filly’s half-brother High George has been The filly is very forward, having a good servant to the Jefferson been broken in last year, with the yard, gaining a career high mark of plan to run in junior bumpers before 134 when beating Gold Cup Christmas and decide if she is to go contender Holywell at Catterick. hurdling in the new year. She has But Our Ethel’s most well-known already schooled over some jumps progeny is Attaglance; retired last and has proved ready to learn and season after a career which saw eager to please. She is a compact, Our filly with Malcolm Jefferson is him accumulate just under powerful looking type who looks a from an incredible family, she was £100,000 in prize money from 6 ready-made jumper. bred by the same breeder as our

ur filly With Philip Hobbs is a daughter of ‘Toulon Rouge’ who was a Racegoers Club Owners Group horse from 2002-2005. She won 4 races from 20 starts including hurdles over a distance of 2m5f-2m7f and a 3 mile 1f chase, and was also placed 5 times. She was a fantastic servant to her share owners before she was retired to stud. Of her two foals that have seen the racecourse to date, one is a full brother to our filly called Sizing Solution, who sold for €95,000 as a three year old to race in the famous Sizing Europe colours of The filly has been broken in Ireland and is now in residence with Phillip Hobbs Alan and Ann Potts. She is from the last crop of Kings Theatre, the leading NH sire of the past two seasons, who’s progeny  All costs for the 2015/16 Jumps season, nothing else to pay Philip Hobbs has done particularly well with including Menorah,  A share of any Prize money Fingal Bay, Captain Chris and  The chance to name your horse Balthazar King. Being a last crop  Meet the trainer and watch your foal makes her very special, as this horse on gallops is the last season to be involved  Regular and detailed training with a Kings Theatre three year updates old.  Owners badges when your horse races (allocated by ballot as The filly has so far impressed the available) Hobbs team with her attitude and  Meet other stable stars on has progressed well since arriving arranged visits at the yard. She is doing faster  Priority to renew for the 2016/17 work and has already schooled over Jumps season hurdles, but she is a big filly who should only get better as she matures. She is typical of the Go to racegoersclub.co.uk/ Phillip Hobbs returns to The Racegoers progeny of Kings Theatre; being ownership to purchase or fill out the Club training ranks for the first time well balanced, athletic and form on the back page since the 2012-13 season extremely professional. Please use the booking form on the back page or go to www.racegoersclub.co.uk/events to book our events

Before a superb afternoon of racing at Cheltenham join Don’t miss our private marquee for one of the most us on a morning visit to exciting young trainer Ben prestigious handicaps of the season at the home of Jump racing. Pauling, former assistant to . Ben started training in 2013, having amassed a wealth of Facilities include: experience with the likes of Nicky and bloodstock agent Marquee entry Club admission ticket David Redvers. He has a string of young and very Guest speaker promising NH horses such as Grade 2 Bumper winner Cash Bar & Tote Betting facility Barters Hill.

Join us for a morning at Charlie’s stables in the heart of before Premier entry for the festive themed heading to Newbury for day two of the Hennessy meeting. The restaurant Grade 1 Tingle Creek including a seat in our spectacular box offers panoramic views of the track and a warm place to enjoy the racing. overlooking the course. Package includes: Facilities include: Premier Admission &Table in The Racegoers Restaurant Premier ticket & entry to our box 3 course lunch, tea & coffee and racecard Cash Bar Tote Betting facility Tote betting facility N.B. These events can be booked separately. Racecard Ascot’s most valuable day of Jump racing, including the The team of Rachel and Anthony Honeyball have made 2 mile Ladbroke Hurdle & 3 mile Long Walk Hurdle. a shrewd and formidable partnership. Momentum has Facilities include: been building since moving to their Potwell Farm base Grandstand admission and their string is ever expanding. Join us for a stable Seat in private viewing ‘loges’ tour before racing at Wincanton in the afternoon for Bandstand restaurant voucher for a hot meal & drink day. (beer/wine) £2 Betting voucher

Talented Eventer, former amateur jockey and assistant Enjoy a popular afternoon of Jumps racing from our to Nicky Henderson, multi-talented Chris Bealby is also private box overlooking the winning line. Enjoy a sit supported by an impressive team. Antonia Bealby is a down meal with a 40% saving on public rates. qualified equine sports massage therapist, whilst Package includes: assistant trainer Laura Morgan learned her trade with Premier admission Peter Moody (Black Caviar) and Jonjo O’Neill. Join us Private box with balcony for a tour of North Lodge Racing, which can be 3 course meal incl. tea & coffee followed by a trip to Southwell. Seat for the day & Racecard Hospitality car parking he Qatar Goodwood Festival, ‘Glorious Goodwood’ at the end of August saw us take centre stage in the Sussex Suites again. The event sold out in record time, even though tickets had to be limited to ensure Racegoers Club members took priority. Another staple in our events calendar saw us return to Epsom on the August Bank Holiday Monday, sadly the weather was not kind but after the event Mr Leow was kind enough to write in to us with his experience of the day: “Nearly everyone involved in racing has a story to tell and our table was no different. The anecdotes kept flowing to everyone's amusement, as did the winners and inevitable losers.

The suite itself was spacious, nicely Recent Events: (Clockwise from top) Glorious Goodwood, Stunning views of the presented and gave us a great view Knavesmire at York, Members meeting Verko at Micky Hammonds, Marcus of the entire racecourse from its Tregoning on the gallops with members and a thrilling finish at York elevated position. Our own bar and betting facilities were a huge bonus York’s finest boxes, with an morning at Micky Hammond's stable too. What I liked was the close amazing view (see picture above). you will know that he spoke well of proximity of all the facilities we Blue Hussar who won at Ripon in On the stable visit front we’ve needed, particularly the lift to get the afternoon at 16-1. The last taken in Clive Cox in Lambourn down to the parade and betting Racegoers Club visit to Middleham and Marcus Tregoning in rings. All in all it was excellent was to Phil Kirby, who also went on Whitsbury both in August with value.” to train a 16-1 winner in the Neil Mulholland in Bath and Micky afternoon could you please arrange Hammond in Middleham featuring in October. We’d like to think that another visit to a Middleham trainer who is going to train a 16-1 winner Members who attended our event at would keep any member happy but in the afternoon?” York in early September fared much Mr Welsh sets high standards: better with the weather and were Well, we’ll do our best! treated to an upgrade to one of “Thank you for arranging the Perhaps the biggest project that ARC has undertaken has been at where we’re spending over £11 million on the conversion of the flat course to Tapeta, the world class surface that we already have installed at Wolverhampton. The track will be the first floodlit straight mile ARC are building a new grandstand at Bath opening Autumn 2016, with additional anywhere in the world and will viewing, public bars, hospitality facilities and a café serving hot and cold food provide a fair and safe surface for horses all year round. received by horsemen as well as with upgraded suites with balconies £70,000 on drainage work at and enhanced catering and another The prize fund for the feature flat Uttoxeter. ground floor public bar. Across the race at Newcastle, the rest of the site, there’ll be general In terms of facilities, there’s some Northumberland Plate, will be upgrades to the landscaping, great projects going on at ARC boosted to £150,000 and we’ll be refurbishments to bars and racecourses. At Uttoxeter, we’re hosting a reserve race worth bathrooms and a new café offering spending £600,000 on a new glass £75,000. Whilst reaction has been hot and cold food. We look forward fronted panoramic restaurant, mixed from some horsemen, we’ve to welcoming Racegoers Club which will allow racegoers to dine been pleased to get the support of members to our new facilities and and watch the racing from their leading northern trainers such as hearing their feedback. Richard Fahey and Brian Ellison, table for the first time. The new who look forward to the North facility will replace the existing having an All-Weather racecourse. Silks restaurant and will be open in time for the Betfred Midlands Jumps racing will continue at the Grand National in March 2016. course as normal throughout the winter, and Flat racing on the Tapeta From next autumn, racegoers at Bath will be benefitting from a new surface will start in May next year. The All-Weather Championships has grandstand, which will overlook been a real success since its the final furlong in addition to a inception two years ago. We’ve ground floor public bar, viewing seen a rise of 80% in runners rated steps for 400 and a premier 90+ and 155% of 100+ running on We have announced a number of restaurant catering for a further the All-Weather over the same investments in our racecourses 200. At the top there will be a period. Along with a 39% increase recently, both in track work and covered roof terrace which will in total prize money. racegoer facilities. You will have offer fantastic viewing of the track seen that we recently invested on racedays. The development will Finals Day takes place as usual on £300,000 in upgrades to the turf at see the existing hospitality stand on Good Friday, which is on March 25 Great Yarmouth, which was well the finishing line undergo a rebuild, next year, at Lingfield Park, with the seven races worth a total of £1.1 million. One of the main changes to this season will encourage the participation of more Irish and French runners. For the first time, horses can qualify for one of the races on Finals Day by racing three times on an All-Weather surface in France and Ireland, as well as Britain. Of course, they need to be high enough rated to run in one of the seven Finals, each worth at least £150,000, or they can make sure of participation by winning a Fast- Track Qualifier, which grants free and guaranteed entry. The All-Weather Championships return for 2015, culminating in the AWC The other way to qualify for one of Finals Day at Lingfield on 25th March 2016. the Finals is to run three times during the Championship period, proved a success from the outset, You’ll be able to follow the league including twice on a designated All- particularly from BHA and our tables each week throughout the Weather surface in Great Britain, fellow British All-Weather courses, season, as well as reading weekly Ireland or France and at least once Kempton Park and Chelmsford blog updates on a number of topics on dirt at Meydan in Dubai. City. at www.awchampionships.co.uk. The categories and the sponsors £10,000 will go to each of the All- remain the same this season, 3-Y-O Weather Champions, based on the Sprint (Unibet), 3-Y-O Mile number of winners, at the end of All-Weather Championships (32Red), Sprint (Unibet), Mile Richard Fahey’s Alben Star ran four season: Champion AW Jockey, (Ladbrokes), Fillies & Mares times in the All-Weather Champion AW Trainer, Champion (32Red), Marathon (32Red) and Championships last year, and despite AW Owner, Champion AW Sire Middle Distance (Coral). There are being a bit older, he’s a tough and and Winning Most AW Horse. In four Fast-Track Qualifiers for each honest performer who will be addition, the horse who wins the race category. looking to build on his solid displays most prize money during the period towards the second half of the Overall, we’re looking forward to will become the All-Weather Horse season. His season peaked with a another great All-Weather of the Year. Championships and a packed Finals second place finish in the Unibet Day at Lingfield Park on Good Perhaps of most direct interest to All-Weather Sprint Championships Friday! Racegoers Club Members will be Conditions Stakes on Finals Day the free to enter At The Races 2015. Champion Tipster competition, If Godolphin target the All-Weather which will once again offer a Championships as much as they did £10,000 first prize, as well as prizes last season, it will be hard to look for monthly winners, the top beyond Charlie Appleby’s tipsters at each of the five all- string. He topped the league table as weather racecourses and regular Champion Trainer in 2015 with 76 one-off competitions announced on winners with some real class in At The Races throughout the All- horses like Pretend and Tryster. Weather Championships. While the All-Weather Championships were initially the Those wanting to take part can idea of ARC, we are enormously access details at grateful to the support we have www.attheraces.com/awtipster and received from all in British Racing sign up to start playing at any time. in helping ensure that they have You can sign up at any point in the season up until the end of February. n late August the BHA launched an industry consultation into the review of the current practices used when compiling the race programme. The consultation was set up in order to determine if there might be a more holistic approach that will mutually benefit Horsemen, Racecourses, Racegoers and the wider industry. The aim is to create an adaptable, transparent and interactive approach Does the quality of races and field sizes have a significant effect on Racegoers which delivers a much better result enjoyment of the raceday? The BHA and RCA want to know your thoughts for our participants and supports the  A reduction in race clashes aspirational programme that sport’s key growth drivers. and gaps encourages quality over  Some horses might run more quantity? The Optimal Race Programme is often 4. Do you have any additional determined each year using industry  Retention and growth of thoughts on the existing race agreed guiding principles. The horses in training  Delivery of competitive and programme and how it could current principles include delivering compelling racing potentially be improved competitive and compelling racing upon ? whilst providing a rewarding and The consultation process is suitable programme that encourages continuing and your feedback to quality. The volume of races aims to the below questions as a regular Please send your responses to: reflect the current horse population racegoer will be crucial towards racegoersclub@ and provide regular opportunities for understanding existing attitudes racecourseassociation.co.uk horses to run roughly every 3 weeks. towards the current race Geographical location of programme. opportunities are taken into account. Or write to us at: Holistic Race Planning. Racegoers 1. What aspects in a race Club, Winkfield Road, Ascot, Benefits arising from the delivery of programme do you look for , SL5 7HX the Optimal Race Programme might when deciding whether you include: will attend a fixture?  Better use of the available 2. As a regular racegoer, is it horse population important that field sizes are  Improvement in field sizes competitive and compelling and success rates (i.e. races run with 8 or more runners) 3. Would you prefer an The scoring system now focuses on graded races so only races of Listed status or above will count. Horses will score points for he big races of the Jumps winning National Hunt races under season are fast approaching the rules of racing in Great Britain and the key questions are ONLY. Points are awarded as already starting to form in our follows: minds. Will Willie Mullins dominate at Cheltenham again? Will Coneygree once more carry all before him in the staying chase division? Can former champions like Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig recapture their old sparkle? The answers to these questions could determine who wins up to £1,500 in our Jumps 10 to Follow competition! The winners of the following races will score 20 additional bonus points:

Simply choose ten horses per team that you think will be winning the big races this season. The more teams you enter, the better chance you have and for every five teams you select, we’ll give you a sixth team FREE. Each team of ten horses costs £5 (£25 for six teams). Wheth- er you choose to focus on proven Closing date for entries is Friday 27 class or try to unearth a few ‘dark’ November. horses in novice chases and novice hurdles is up to you. Please complete the form opposite and return to The Racegoers Club, Winkfield Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HX. The competition will run until 8th November and the winners will be announced in January’s edition of The Racegoer.

pproaching the end of the competition, Neil Thomas has opened up a 30 point gap between himself and the chasing pack of five. Neil has 4 out of the 6 top teams and looks like he’ll be hard to knock off the top spot but it is all still to play for as we enter the final furlong of this year’s Flat Ten to Follow competition.

□ □ courses receive plaques to commemorate their win, and our commendations are often used in the marketing and promotion of the racecourses. t’s the time of year when we ask members to vote on their We want all courses to receive due favourite British racecourse. consideration in our poll, so please Cheltenham took the national award in 2014 Last year perennial favourites encompass all aspects of your All this and more could sway your dominated the national awards, but day’s racing when deciding who to vote and the courses want to hear there was success in the regionals vote for. Which course gives the your reasons for voting for them. for some new faces, including Perth friendliest welcome? Which offers Please leave a message on the form taking the title for Scotland & the the best value for money? Where and we will ensure it is passed on. North. offers the best food or your Send the completed form to favourite pint? Every course has its own charm and Racegoers Club, Winkfield Road, it is up to you to decide which Of course it isn’t all about the Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HX. All courses deserve the coveted facilities. Have you noticed a completed forms will be entered into Racegoers Club Regional and course doing excellent community a free draw for 2 tickets to a National awards. The winning work that merits consideration? racecourse of your choice.

Please vote for your favourite course nationally, then tell us your Best Regional Racecourse in column 1 and Best Small Regional Racecourse in column 2 on the table below. Name: Membership Number: Your vote for National Racecourse of the Year goes to: Because

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□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ facilitations are what is required for a great day out and in the main they are, but as with everything in life, nothing is perfect and there should be the constant willingness to strive to better one self or should I say the race meeting. he Horseracing Bettors Forum held their first The world we live in is very fickle meeting on Friday and incredibly competitive for our September 4th. A pennies and pounds so nothing in thorough and in depth agenda was the leisure, betting or entertainment perhaps ambitious for a starter, yet industry should be complacent as not surprising as it reflected your for us there is the opportunity to various thoughts on the sport we are spend our money elsewhere. devoted to and the obstacles put Plus with all changes and before us when betting on it. improvements when they come it Since its inception there have been shouldn’t be at the cost of Club committee member and many cynics wading in with the alienating the devotees. ambassador Tanya is one of nine doubts over what can be achieved, Horseracing Bettors Forum members don’t get me wrong, when it comes to cynicism I’d pitch up for a chance at Olympic Gold medal! see change as we can’t help you if you don’t help us. Yet for me to be a part of the Forum, in the hope for progress, such While I have your attention check negativity has to be filed away and out the BHA integrity review and an approach with an open mind and do provide the forum with feedback. renewed vigour has to be made. It’s crucial and a genuine chance to There is much to be done according get your opinions across, never say to what has been sent in so far. “if only”.

The meeting lasted a good duration Dubai Future Champions’ weekend and the countless entrants on the was fantastic even though I backed agenda should have been enough for Oriental Fox win only! The the BHA to raise their eyebrows or champions concept developed into instigate themselves into movement. reality as it did exactly as it said on All that has been discussed can be the tin, Minding and Air Force found on the website (see latest Blue, enough said! news link at the end of this article). Qipco Champions’ Day at Ascot is The first round of discussions were another belter and before we know as much to find the Forum’s feet as it the doors of Aintree and well as getting the various Cheltenham creek open as we all communication strands established buy into the drama and emotion of so that you can send in your queries the National Hunt Season as it hits or ideas. full speed. In order for the industry to flourish, The next Forum meeting is the customer, consumer, punter, has November 23rd and there is a to feel enthused, confident, constant twitter feed to view, plus a comfortable, satisfied that the means to contact us if you want to entertainment and various friends in £100-£200 denominations. Racecourses to be a bit more consistent in their welcoming of owners groups Some are great, but some are snobby about it. Why don't they give 12 ’m an owner, punter and just entrance tickets to syndicate horses - general racing enthusiast. In everybody through the gate is business there is a theory which someone else eating, drinking and basically says to get to the root of punting. OK at major meetings such the problem ask ‘Why’ three times. as the Cheltenham Festival they may So what’s causing small field sizes? want to limit it to 4/6, fair enough. Whats causing lack of horse Also some courses limit the number population - the net costs of because they give meals - well owning/training a racehorse in rather than give meals for free, why are ridiculous, particularly don't they give more tickets. The in . Why is owners who are sole owners won’t transport to racecourses so care about spending £30 on a meal if expensive? Change training they want one! The new owners locations, move racing around the Are owners given the rewards their attracted to the sport will feel part of country in phases. I’m sure BHA investment deserves? the ownership experience. can produce the stats but my The business case needs to make Anyway - thank you for listening - I experience is it’s £20,000 to run a sense at the lower end - a horse would love to have the opportunity racehorse for 12 months, and if the owner should have a realistic shout to get involved (voluntarily) in average horse wins 1 out of 6 races, of winning £20k a year to break raising the profile of our sport. BHA typical prize money can be £2,000 even. We should set a percentage do something!! (after everyone's deductions), with of horses that have a realistic Rob Hill maybe a pit of place money on top - chance of breaking even each year every year it’s a massive loss. I’m and monitor it. That should be the not looking to make a profit as it is a key performance indicator of hobby ….but not many people spend whether our sport is healthy, not £300+ per week on a hobby. The the total amount of prize money. cost should be regarded as a barrier to entry for new owners in the sport. Horse race owners groups - will be the way forward as the costs are The star letter in each edition gets a More prize money at grass roots so prohibitive (well done pair of tickets to the racecourse of I normally like Willie Mullins but Racegoers Club) why doesn't BHA their choice. his comment about prize money at do more to promote owners the top end needing to be higher is groups? It could provide a website laughable. The big owners will for ads, charge a small fee to place Send your letters to: spend what they want on horses them - but at least its a central point racegoersclub@ because they are competitive , want for anyone to go to. Sell a racecourseassociation.co.uk to win/have success and prestige. If nationally recognised ‘own a or write to us at: they want to spend half a million to racehorse’ voucher so that people Racegoers Club, Winkfield Road, win £50k a year that is up to them. can buy presents for relatives and Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HX. gripe concerns the number of runners per race especially where that number falls below 8 runners and hence the number of places for each-way punters (of which I am ear Racegoers Club, one) is reduced. I’ve attended a I am writing to tell you number of meetings this year when that my wife Liz and my- the weather and (one would have self had a wonderful day at Newton thought that) the goings have been Abbot on Friday 18th September for fairly consistent where late the prize for my letter (Summer withdrawal has taken 1, 2 and 2015). I must say Patrick and every- sometimes more horses out of a race and reduced the fields below body involved at Newton Abbot Mr & Mrs Clark presenting Tom Racecourse were marvellous to us. I Malone with the winning owners prize 8. Should the self-certification picked the best turned out and pre- at Newton Abbot process (for horse withdrawal) be sented the prize for the second race. more visible e.g. printed in the racecard, to the punter in terms of We should be very proud of race- Leicester and Southwell who all the number of certificates by trainer, courses like Newton Abbot, they are have tree problems. I do actually by venue and any subsequent fines a credit to British Racing. play golf myself and on a recent imposed by the BHA? Yours Sincerely, visit to Southwell, on hacking my way round the course, I noticed that My other groan when attending race Mr R.E.Clark they had planted even more trees. I meetings is the timing of first / last do admit that a lot of the courses races. First races early afternoon – are adding screens for the racegoers could some start in a morning say but I like the atmosphere of being 11.00am and with the sixth race there. I can stay at home and look (often the last) at 2.30pm so traffic at a screen. can be allowed to clear before the rush hour/schools finish for the day? Yours in sport, It might ease congestion, which can would like to question the Phil Ward (Mr Grumpy) be a real headache especially where wisdom of racecourses to plant busy junctions have to be negotiated. trees in the centre of courses. Do On this matter, congratulations to they not realise that given time these Pontefract races on my last visit trees will grow and obstruct the having parked in the designated car viewing of racegoers? I do realise park the number of stewards and that courses have to find extra ways police officers managing the exit of to add income e.g. golf courses, but traffic was excellent. find that more and more on my trips lthough I agree with the racing my view is being obstructed. sentiments of previous letter Sincerely writers in regards to the quality and I live in Lincoln and the courses I Tony Crossland regularly visit are Doncaster, quantity of race meetings, my main The Racegoers Club marquee at the Cheltenham Festival is always a hugely popular event, with over 200 members and guests visiting us each day. Tickets can be booked securely online with your Racegoers Club login - go to www.racegoersclub.co.uk/ Our marquee is situated in the tented village, with easy racecourse-events access to all facilities and just a short walk from the paddock and course viewing areas. Alternatively, please fill out the form below with your payment details and send it to: The Racegoers Club, Our facility includes: Winkfield Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7HX  Guest speaker running through the card each morning  Private cash bar serving hot & cold food (and Access to the marquee requires either Tattersalls or Club Guinness) Enclosure admission, purchasable directly from  Private Tote kiosk Cheltenham (see page 23 for details).  Screens showing all the action from Cheltenham Please contact us to advise if you require disabled or  A seat and table for the day easy access so that we can make prior arrangements. This event sells out quickly and in order to ensure our members have a fair opportunity to obtain tickets, we have limited the amount of guests each member can Any booking made before 8th January will be eligible bring to 5 (6 tickets total). Joint members may reserve for the early bird rate shown in the pricing table. Orders ten tickets for guests (12 total). made after 4pm Friday 9th January 2016 will be at the full price, which is £2 per ticket more.

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Security Code Expiry Date / meetings held at their 16 racecourse partners including Aintree, Epsom Downs and York! To use your points when e have teamed up again this year with booking Cheltenham Festival racing’s award winning rewards tickets, simply visit programme, Rewards4Racing, to help www.cheltenham.co.uk or call you save even more money when you go 0344 576 3003, select the ticket to the races. you wish to purchase and opt to use your Rewards4Racing points at the payment stage. All Racegoers Club members receive either 500 Rewards4Racing points for a single membership or If you have any difficulties using your points please 1,000 Rewards4Racing points for a joint either email the Rewards4Racing team at membership*. These points equate to £5 or £10 [email protected] or call 0845 605 5220. respectively and can be used towards your tickets to the *All points will be added within 31 days of membership Cheltenham Festival 2016, or any of the other race purchase/renewal.

ith the new Racegoers Club branding he Club’s launched, you can now share in your personalised club’s striking new look with our range padded diaries, of merchandise. featuring our Providing all you need to look the part at the races and logo on the front cover and beyond, all our products carry the club’s new logo and containing everything from colours. All the products are high quality, from road maps to all major engraved cufflinks for gentlemen and silk scarves for sports fixtures, are now ladies, there is something for everyone. available, priced at £7.50 each including p&p. The A4 Our range of merchandise will be available from 1st calendar, with colour photos of top December at racegoersclub.co.uk/merchandise. Flat and National Hunt horses plus plenty of room to jot important daily notes down, are £9.50 inc. p&p.

Please fill out the order table and payment form on the back page. Alternatively, orders can be placed at racegoersclub.co.uk/merchandise from December.

Racegoers Club hip flask £17, pin badge £3, & en- graved cufflinks £20.

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