www.racecourseassociation.co.uk July 2018 updatenewsletter CONTENTS Welcome 03 Showcase & Awards 2018 05 09 Racecourse in Focus 06 Did You Know ... 07 Groundstaff Courses 07 Badges & Pass 2018 08 Racegoers Club 09 Sponsorship 10 On Track 11 Five Minutes of Fame 13 RaceTech 14 GBR 15 GBRI 16 Racing Foundation 17 Racing to School 18 Racing Together 19 Racehorse Owners Association 20 The Thoroughbred Club 21 Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc. 21 Watt Fences 23 Pitchcare 24 Duralock 25 Job Board 26 Careers in Racing 29 Careers Overview Seminars 30 PJA Pro Am 31 Diary Dates / Contributors / 32 14 Staff Contact List HAVE How has YOUR your raceday SAY experience been today? Submit your comments and you could win a £50 John Lewis gift voucher! roa.co.uk/feedback Working together to improve the owners 15 raceday experience 20 2 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page WELCOME June has brought a heatwave, a record breaking Royal Meeting and football on it's way home! Words by Paul Swain The sun has been shining, racing which last a lifetime. Few will forget Sir Racecourses have embraced the festivals are coming thick and fast, our Michael Stoute’s record breaking 76th campaign and we have seen some racing staff have been heralded for the Royal winner as Poet’s Word toppled great initiatives taking place: Hamilton fantastic work that they do and those the mighty Cracksman in the Prince Park’s racing staff BBQ, Musselburgh’s of us of an English persuasion can’t help of Wales’s Stakes and the masterful grand jute bags packed with treats, but believe it MIGHT be coming home. Frankie Dettori and John Gosden treble Stratford’s free ice creams, Newbury’s to open proceedings on day one. Long free entry for racing staff and Thirsk’s Royal Ascot took centre stage in June may such joyous scenes be associated branded hats all spring to mind. with five days of wonderful racing, with our sport. The week itself was rounded off at pageantry and fashion. One of the Doncaster for staff in the north and most exciting elements of the week It has been incredibly heart-warming Newton Abbot in the south with was seeing such a mix of connections to see the celebrations for racing staff, two races contested by racing staff. in the winner’s enclosure—wins for highlighted by the Racing Staff Week Congratulations Christina Berry and John Quinn and first-ever Royal winners campaign led by Racing Welfare and Gareth Newmarch and I sincerely hope for Eve Johnson Houghton and Marco supported by Betfair. The campaign all who participated loved the thrill of Botti gave some of the loudest cheers aims to bring the racing industry the race! of the week. together to inform and engage horseracing supporters about the Spectacles like Royal Ascot give the passion and dedication of those who sport a platform to make memories work to make racing happen. 3 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page NEWS FROM THE RCA The latest from the RCA, with a look at the Racecourse in Focus and the Sponsorship figures for June 2018. 4 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page SHOWCASE & AWARDS 2018 5 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page IT’S THE RACECOURSE IN FOCUS 2017 saw Fontwell Park claim the prestigious Racing Post Readers' Award at the Showcase Awards Words by Paul Swain Fontwell Park is known to many as a will never forget. “The host of the beautiful racecourse on the South champagne reception then gave my coast, set in wonderful surroundings mother a racing plate discarded from a and home to the only figure of horse that had raced - she was able to eight racetrack on the jumps circuit. do this as her husband was the course Moreover, Fontwell Park, or friendly farrier” added Louise. “We had the most Fontwell as it is affectionately known fantastic and unforgettable day ever, by the team, is renowned for its especially as my mother had a flutter customer service which was recognised on the horse that won the race she at the 2017 Showcase & Awards as presented the trophy for! Words cannot the racecourse was the recipient of describe my thanks to all the people at the prestigious Racing Post Readers Fontwell who went above and beyond to Award for customer service—the only make my mother's birthday so very, very Showcase Award to be nominated by special.” members of the public. Mandy Austen, the Sponsorship The judges were looking for both Manager at Fontwell Park, was quantity and quality of nominations. singled out for praise by Louise in Fontwell received plenty and one in her nomination. “It was lovely to see the jockeys and presented to Louise’s particular, from Louise Fryer, caught Louise back at our course again on our mother on stage whilst the crowd sang the eye. “I contacted the racecourse fantastic family bank holiday race day. to her.” to ask about putting an advert in the Louise and her guest had a lovely time Mandy’s attitude to great service racecard for my mother's birthday. here and we arranged for a perfect extends throughout the team and, After a bit of email correspondence we window seat in front of the finishing subsequently, o all racegoers visiting agreed a format and a price. This was post. I thanked her for what she had Fontwell Park. “Some people may just the beginning of the most amazing written which helped us win our award only buy a ticket and not take a box customer service experience I have ever which we are all incredibly proud of, it’s a or sponsor a race, but we have to had” explains Louise. great achievement. remember that people have worked “The team put together a lovely advert “I hadn’t remembered the specific hard to buy their ticket” explained and Mandy Austen, our contact at raceday initially until I saw Louise Mandy. “All racegoers deserve the same the racecourse, said she might have again—we have so many birthdays here VIP treatment which is why Fontwell something extra for us on the day. It and we do our best to go the extra mile is so loved and known as Friendly turned out that she arranged for my for every racegoer! Fontwell—we go above and beyond!” mother to present the trophy to the “I was able to get Louise’s mother Fontwell Park joined Aintree, Pontefract, winning horse of the last race and then to present the last race as one of Hamilton Park and Bath as winners of to have a glass of champagne with the our sponsors wasn’t present, so it the Racing Post Readers Award for winning trainer. We were all included in was a case of offering these magical exemplary customer service. The Award the celebration” experiences to racegoers who will run again at this year’s Showcase— What had started as a special birthday otherwise would not get the chance. who will join our esteemed gallery of celebration had become a truly unique I also had a History of Fontwell Park winners? experience and one that Louise Racecourse book which I got signed by 6 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page DID YOU KNOW... Did you know that the RCA has a These include a document is medical risk assessments and newly comprehensive suite of guidance designed to assist racecourses in issued guidance on veterinary risk documents for racecourses confirming their own risk assessments assessments. surrounding risk assessment for by providing detailed information The suite of documents is completed raceday activities, aimed at all those regarding the potential risks which by our Parade Ring Safety Guidance who have a duty to manage risks to should be considered and any Note and Risk Assessment, which is safety of participants at racecourses on regulations surrounding these. This currently being reviewed and updated, a raceday. is complemented by specialist in consultation with our Industry documents, examining Partners. RACECOURSE GROUNDSTAFF COURSES The date and location for the 2018 Racecourse Groundstaff Course has now been finalised as follows: 18-23 November 2018 - Racecourse Groundstaff Turf Management Skills Course The British Racing School, Newmarket For more information on upcoming IOG courses or to reserve a place on the above course please contact Diann or Su at [email protected] at the Institute of Groundsmanship, 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TW, Tel: 01908 312511. 7 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page BADGES & PASS 2018 The need-to-knows RCA & Media Badge Posters Accreditation Lists Eight copies of the large poster and four copies of the A4 sized Copies of the lists of 2018 RCA poster for 2018 have been sent to and Media Accreditation holders all racecourses. Extra copies and are available on request from Carol electronic copies are available on Walker request from Carol Walker Missing Badges RCA: 68, 350, 359, 360, 442, 558, 559, 639, 640, 644, 969, 1207, 1208, 1276, 1277, 1647, 1654, 1932, 2125, 2218, 2220, 2238, 2240, 2273, 2279, 2311, 2313, 2377, 2414, 2501, 2524 Press: PJA: 66, 116, 146, 160, 250, 251, 259, 299, 301, 315 NTF: 1, 61, 64, 306, 307, 403, 404, 500, 501, 601, 682, 893, 894, 895, 1016, 1042, 1043, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1088, 1192, 1193, 1203, 1208, 1209, 1239, 1251, 1259, 1301, 1302, 1317, 1347 Officials: 118, 163 8 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page FROM JUDDMONTE TO STRATFORD-ON-AVON VIA ASCOT Words by Sophie Hellyer Racegoers Club members have helped Gary Moore, Oliver Sherwood, David Racegoers Club, is a not-for-profit raise an impressive £500 donation for Brown and Sir Mark Prescott.