@racegoersclub /racegoersclub theracegoer OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2017 Cheltenham Festival p.4 Owners Group p.10 Contents Industry Update 3 Cheltenham Festival 2018 4 - 5 Ten to Follow/Racecourse of the Year 6 Members Renewals 7 Ditcheat Jockey Academy 8 - 9 Owners Groups 10 - 11 Silk Series 12 - 13 Summer Events Round-up 14 - 15 Bloodstock News 16 Club Update 17 Events 18 - 19 2 IndustryUpdate Meet the new Racing Director at the Racecourse Association – Andy Clifton “Apparently, everyone else they interviewed, who were 30-year-old computer experts, asked, ‘What’s the Triumph Hurdle?’ So, it was more by luck than judgement that I got taken on.” Clifton’s responsibilities soon expanded to become secretary of the newly-formed Jump Pattern Committee and also included a spell on administrative work for the European Pattern Committee – both of which were later to throw up examples of racing’s ‘small world’ environment. In 1997 he succeeded Simon Clare as PR manager at Ladbrokes, where he stayed for five years, followed by two years as PR director at the Tote and a similar spell as managing director of Favourites Racing, before he answered a call Andy Clifton fell in love with racing after leaving from Edward Gillespie to take up a new post as school, gaining first-hand experience of the communications manager at Cheltenham. betting world when he joined colleagues at the local bookmakers in their lunchtime break while After six years at Cheltenham, the call came from on a year’s work experience with his sponsor Hong Kong, where Clifton says: “I was flattered Austin Rover at its Longbridge factory. to be approached and had a brilliant year there, made many contacts, learned a lot and got a He used to go racing at least twice a week while different perspective on several different aspects at university, where he was probably the only of the racing industry.” student to have the Sporting Life delivered to the halls of residence and chose courses where For personal reasons he returned to the UK lectures took place mainly in the morning. after a year, just as Newbury chief executive Julian Thick was reorganising the management The knowledge of the race programme that this team and looking to fill the new role of head of gave him helped him secure his first job in the communications. sport. Now, Clifton has moved from the specific to the Clifton recalls, “I saw an advert in the racing general, with race planning and programming for trade papers for deputy race-planning manager at all RCA members as his brief. the Jockey Club. The ad made it sound as if you needed to be 30 years old and a computer expert. “Several things attracted me to the RCA job,” he Well, I was 22 and just about knew how to turn on says. “There aren’t many people who’ve done the a computer, but I thought I’d apply anyway. variety of jobs in racing and betting as I have, or have the contacts in both areas whose brains I “I got an interview and I remember the killer can pick, which gives me the opportunity to take a question was, ‘Your four-year-old hurdler has just rounded view of the industry. won the Triumph and you’re going to campaign him towards the Champion Hurdle, what would “It felt like a great opportunity at the right time your programme be?’ I said you’d probably go to take a broader industrywide role. What’s more, for the Gerry Feilden first, because it’s open only I can hit the ground running, so there’s lots of to four- and five-year-olds, and then the obvious aspects that makes this the perfect job.” races. 3 CheltenhamFestival 2018 Cheltenham Festival Marquee Champion’s Day Champion Hurdle Tuesday 13 March £39 members, £47 guests The famous Cheltenham roar awaits on day one of The Festival. As the tapes rise for the opening race, horseman and racegoers alike rejoice as the wait is over. The showpiece of the first day is the Champion Hurdle, where Britain and Ireland’s finest two mile hurdlers go head to The Racegoers Club marquee at the Cheltenham head. In 2017, Buveur D’Air took the honours for Festival is always a hugely popular event with JP McManus and Nicky Henderson. Champion’s over 200 members and guests visiting us each Day also features the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle day. As in previous years, we will have a marquee and Arkle Chase where the best two mile novice for every day of the Cheltenham Festival. Hurdlers and Chasers are on display. Last year Our marquee is situated in the tented village, Racegoers Club Ambassador, Richard Hoiles, gave with easy access to all facilities and just a short members a superb insight for The Festival and we walk from the paddock and course viewing areas. will be hoping for much of the same again. Our facility includes: Ladies Day Queen Mother Champion Chase • Special guest speaker running through the Wednesday 14 March card each morning £36 members, £43 guests • Private cash bar serving hot & cold food • Private Tote kiosk After the excitement of the first day of The • Screens showing all the action from Festival, the glamour comes to town for Ladies Cheltenham Day and the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Start the day with a glass of champagne in our • A seat for the day exclusive marquee, then enjoy the spectacle • A quiz with exclusive prizes of the best two mile chasers taking each other on. Special Tiara won the 2017 renewal of the We know that sharing the Cheltenham experience Queen Mother Champion Chase in emphatic style with family and friends is very important. Each and gave Noel Fehily his second Championship member can bring up to five guests (six tickets Race win in two days. Also on the card there is total). Joint members may reserve 10 guest the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle which has tickets (12 total). been previously won by stars such as Simonsig, Faugheen and Yorkhill. Early Bird Cheltenham Special Offer: Get all four days for a special price of £135 (usually £150) when you book before Christmas* *Available for Members only and limited to the first 40 members - offer ends 15 December 2017 4 CheltenhamFestival 2018 Cheltenham Festival Marquee St. Patrick’s Thursday Stayers Hurdle Thursday 15 March £36 members, £43 guests Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Day Three of The Festival. It is a typically Irish affair with Guinness flowing all around the racecourse plus racegoers are treated to Irish Music throughout the day. As well as a superb atmosphere, the racing is excellent with the JLT Novices’ Chase, The Stayers Hurdle and the Ryanair Steeplechase. Last year St. Patrick’s day saw the barren run for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh end as they chalked up Important Information a four-timer, the highlight being the feature race with Nichols Canyon. Come join us for a Guinness Access to the marquee requires Club Enclosure and some great racing on St Patrick's Day! admission, which must be purchased directly from Cheltenham Racecourse. Gold Cup Day Please contact us in advance if you require Gold Cup Steeple Chase disabled or easy access so that we can make Friday 16 March arrangements. If you would like to bring children please also contact us prior to the event due to £39 members, £47 guests capacity requirements. The Festival closes with the showpiece of the How to book week, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is one of the most sought after titles in racing Marquee Tickets will be available to purchase and always provides some enthralling racing. It from 25 October at 10am. is a race associated with the elite of the sport and nothing can rival the Cheltenham roar as Online - go to www.racegoersclub.co.uk/ the horses charge up the famous hill. The 2017 racecourse-events and select the days you wish to renewal was won in emphatic fashion by Sizing attend. John giving Robbie Power and Jessica Harrington their first Gold Cup success. Come and join us Post - fill out the form on page 20 and return for the blue riband event of the jumping calendar to: The Racegoers Club, Winkfield Road, Ascot, with a special guest speaker. Berkshire, SL5 7HX Early Bird Cheltenham Special Offer: Get all four days for a special price of £135 (usually £150) when you book before Christmas* *Available for Members only and limited to the first 40 members - offer ends 15 December 2017 5 TentoFollow Ten to Follow Competition Adrian Judd still has his neck in front The Flat season is coming to a close and there have been some super stars this year. Enable has proved unstoppable over the longer distances and truly deserved her Arc win. Since toppling Carravaggio in the July Cup, Harry Angel has proven to be the star sprinter with a brilliant performance on heavy ground in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Adrian Judd is still out in front, but over the last few months his lead has been slowly ebbed away. John Williams has been creeping into contention and who knows what will happen on Champions Day when every race has bonus points attached. It could be all change after the 21 October. Don’t forget to sign up to the Ten to Follow Jumps Competition starting on Friday 17 November, using the Booking Form on the back page. Closing date for entries is Wednesday 15 November. Racecourse of the Year Cast your vote by 31 December 2017 It’s the time of year when we ask members Please visit our website today to register your to vote on their favourite British Racecourse.