www.racecourseassociation.co.uk January 2018 updatenewsletter CONTENTS Welcome 03 Raceday Experience Group 04 05 RCA Racing & Turf Management Conference 06 Did You Know..... Racecourse in Focus 07 RCA Racing Department 08 Badges & Pass 2018 09 Sponsorship 10 Racegoers Club 11 Five Minutes of Fame 12 GBRI 13 BHA 14 Racing to School 16 Racing Together 17 The Thoroughbred Club 18 Pontefract Races 18 Racing Welfare 19 Racing Foundation 20 Horseracing Industry Conf. 21 Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc. 22 Watt Fences 23 Pitchcare 24 Duralock 25 Job Board 26 RCA - Who We Are 27 RCA - What we Do 28 13 Groups & Committees 29 Diary Dates / Contributors / 30 Staff Contact List 16 20 2 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page WELCOME Welcome to your first edition of Update for 2018 and a Happy New Year from everybody at the RCA. Words by Will Aitkenhead stage of the Levy replacement as well Further ahead the Racing & Turf as the gambling review and proposed Management Conference at the end changes to gaming machines and of February will provide Clerks and social responsibility measures. Groundstaff with the chance to catch up and learn from the very best in We are collaborating closely with the business of turf husbandry, the the BHA and the Horseman’s Group environment and weather mapping as to form racing’s responses to both well as other equine fields. consultations and are also working on engagement with the Association of The Racegoers Club celebrates its As ever we have an action-packed British Bookmakers and GambleAware. 50th anniversary this year which is issue with lots of valuable information Elsewhere in government, we have quite an achievement given society’s regarding racecourses and other key contributed to ongoing discussions trend towards shorter attention spans partners. with DCMS and BIS as well as the CMA and less brand loyalty. The continued regarding secondary ticketing and support of racecourses and trainers To start the year we were delighted to the enforcement of new legislation. makes this possible and the Club is hear that Matthew Hancock MP had The RCA will be attending an all sports hugely grateful for all that you do. been promoted to Secretary of State meeting in February as the consultation for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport continues. We will shortly have the final attendance in the recent cabinet reshuffle. As the figures across all racecourses from the MP for Newmarket, Matthew has been Likewise in the coming weeks, we 1464 fixtures held in 2017 and these a dedicated supporter of the sport are looking forward to representing will be published at the end of January and has an excellent understanding of racecourses at a variety of levels. This along with the latest interesting insight racecourses and the contribution they will include a presence at the ongoing and analysis from Two Circles on the make to society and the economy. Stewarding Forums, catching up data. with the ECB in our hugely beneficial It was also good news that Tracey cross-sport partnership, attending Here’s to an excellent 2018 and look Crouch retained her position in the the Horseracing Industry Conference forward to catching up soon. department as the minster directly and meeting with the Racing Together responsible for sport and gambling. team to plan the 2018 community Continuity in this role is crucial with the engagement workshops. ongoing consultation on the second 3 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page When The Raceday Experience Group meets six times annually. In 2018, two meetings will be taken on the road to allow further racecourses to attend and to demonstrate RACEDAY some of the best in class in terms of customer experience. 2018 meeting dates are confirmed as: EXPERIENCE Tuesday 30 January 75 High Holborn, London, 11am-1pm Tuesday 20 March 75 High Holborn, London, 11am-1pm GROUP Tuesday 29 May 75 High Holborn, London, 11am-1pm Tuesday 17 July Bath Racecourse, 10.30am-12.30pm 2018 PROFILE Wednesday 10 October 75 High Holborn, London, 11am-1pm The Raceday Experience Group is set and ready to Monday 10 December Musselburgh Racecourse, 10am-12pm go for another year of sharing best practice with the common goal of enhancing the customer experience Who across Britain’s Racecourses. Words by Paul Swain Encompassing expertise from across With a host of research completed Raceday Experience Group Alternates the country and from racecourses of all in 2017, it is important to see action Members sizes, the Group works collectively to arising and more importantly, delivering create bespoke projects and progress results. “We will continue to measure Rachel White ARC existing initiatives for the benefit of all the success of our work by analysing Kate McKee Beverley Sam Cone ARC racecourses. The highlight of the Group’s customer data, objective assessments Sophie Parry Chester/Bangor Joanna Wales Ascot work is the annual Showcase & Awards, via the Quality Assured Racecourse Sarah Bullen Goodwood Juliet Slot Ascot the marquee event of the Racecourse Scheme and of course the Showcase & Fred Motley GBR Association. Awards,” Swain explains. Jo Hall Bath Sally Iggulden Beverley “Having trusted and respected partners Fraser Garrity Chelmsford City “We have plenty of such as The AA, Harrison:Fraser, Stephanie Hughes Chester/Bangor work to get our teeth VisitScotland and Two Circles allows Gregg Taylor GBR Observers us to analyse our work much more Alex Eade Goodwood into this year with the thoroughly and target key areas for David Fraser Harrison:Fraser launch of the Have improvement. Katie Wise JCR Steve Parlett Kempton Park Toby Shaw GBR a Great Day at the “It has been a pleasure to see this Nadia Powell Market Rasen Rod Street GBR workstream grow in reccent years where Phil Duncan Musselburgh Paul Fisher JCR Races strategy." we have seen definite progress in raising Rob Boobyer Newbury Rebecca Hamilton JCR the bar of the customer experience. This Katy Webster Perth Paul Swain, the RCA’s Racecourse has been possible thanks to the support Caroline Davies RCA Services Executive, manages the and trust of those who attend meetings Paul Swain RCA Group’s agenda and is excited by what’s and the wider racecourse community Ilona Barnett Stratford to come in 2018. “We have plenty of who provide feedback and subsequently work to get our teeth into this year with implement the initiatives. Hayley Plimley Uttoxeter the launch of the Have a Great Day at Amy Swales York the Races strategy which will see us work “There is constant demand from with racecourses and a range of partners racecourses to be part of the Group. to try and impact on a broad spectrum of Should anybody want to join the Group customer experience." or simply attend a meeting to see what it is all about they are more than welcome.” 4 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page 5 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page RCA RACING AND TURF MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE Sponsored by Duralock The 2018 RCA Racing and Turf Management Conference will be held at The Belfry Hotel and Resort Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February 2018. Words by Holly Cook / Matthew Taylor The event is open to all members of This year’s conference will be an extra feature of each RCA Turf Management racecourse teams, and is specifically special event, as we are celebrating Seminar, and we thank them for their designed to appeal to Clerks of the 25 years of RCA Conferences and to continued sponsorship. Course and Racecourse Groundstaff. mark the occasion we are holding a The programme is based on feedback Celebratory Dinner on Thursday 22 For further information, please contact from previous years and covers a wide February, with Jonjo O’Neill as our guest Holly Cook. range of relevant issues. For full details, speaker. Duralock will support the please click here. evening with the traditional Duralock Happy Hour, which has been a key DID YOU KNOW...... At the request of the RCA Safety to suit their individual needs. This overview of horse awareness to all Group, the RCA developed a template training, which has been developed members of the racecourse team. programme for horse awareness with input from racecourses, the RCA training, which can be used by Technical Group, RCA Veterinary This programme is currently being racecourses to deliver training on a local Adviser, the BHA and the British Racing finalised for circulation to racecourses. basis, and adapted by each racecourse School, is designed to provide a basic 6 | RCA Update Newsletter 2018 Back to content page IT’S THE RACECOURSE IN FOCUS What better way to kick off our Racecourse in Focus feature for the New Year than with Kelso – an independent racecourse with plenty to look forward to in 2018. Words by Will Aitkenhead The Scottish Borders track may have been frustrated by the weather, with two abandonments due to frost closing out 2017, but 2018 promises to be an exciting one and with new Managing Director Jonathan Garratt in place there is lots to look forward to. With a total annual prize fund of £1.2 million announced, providing an average value per race of £12,200, horsemen will benefit from the increased investment while punters and racegoers should also be assured of a competitive jump racing programme. Before then though Kelso holds the Morebattle Hurdle Day on February 15 “We anticipate and Premier Hurdle Day on March 3. The Morebattle Hurdle has attracted some making a significant star names in recent years including dual Cheltenham Festival winner Simonsig investment in the who won the race as a novice in 2012, facilities over a period the 2010 Neptune winner Peddlers Cross who used the race as a stepping of several years.” stone before finishing second in the 2011 Champion Hurdle and last year’s Scilly Isles Chase winner Top Notch in The investment won’t stop at prize 2016.