News & Press

8th June 2013: Ascot Racecourse to receive ROA Gold Standard award at Royal Meeting

ASCOT Racecourse will join the prestigious ranks of ROA Gold Standard Award racecourses with a formal presentation ceremony at the Berkshire course on Tuesday, June 17. The award recognises overall excellence in the raceday experience for owners, their horses and stable staff. Ascot is the 13th course to receive the coveted accolade.

A commemorative plaque will be presented to the racecourse executive during racing on the opening day of this year's Royal Meeting. This high profile setting is a fitting testament to the importance that the course places upon the award.

Ascot's prize-money for the past twelve months stands at £9.2 million, an unparalleled figure among British racecourses. Their executive and sponsorship contributions for the same period amount to 50.9% of their overall prize-money pool. Their average prize-money per fixture for the past twelve months, as listed in the Racing Post's statistical tables, is £439,536, putting them top of the Category A courses.

Chris Stickels, clerk of the course at Ascot, said: "We are delighted to receive the ROA Gold Standard Award. As well as continued investment in prize-money, we appreciate that owners are the lifeblood of the sport and their facilities on course are paramount. We are pleased to be able to offer complimentary catering to owners and trainers throughout the year, including Royal Ascot. We look forward to welcoming everyone next week."

Sally Rowley-Williams, ROA Gold Standard Committee member and ROA Council member, said: "Ascot is a terrific course for owners. We have been in discussion with the management team over the past two years and they have been very accommodating. Whilst Ascot's prize-money is unsurpassed, they have made a tremendous effort to provide hospitality for owners, so that even if the horse does not win any prize-money, the owner is sure to have had a highly enjoyable experience.

8th June 2012: PJA demonstrates Commercial and Sponsorship Opportunities

The Professional Jockeys Association (The PJA), the body that represents Jockeys within British horseracing, has produced a Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities brochure showcasing the numerous opportunities for commercial association with the sporting body and its members.

The brochure, which is attached to this press release is also available in hard copy or downloadable from www.thepja.co.uk, demonstrates the various benefits and opportunities available via commercial sponsorship of both PJA events as well as the Jockeys Championship titles.

The brochure is aimed at organisations who wish to become directly associated with the stars of the sport of horseracing, from a grass routes level to champion jockeys. Areas that are covered are sponsorship opportunities of The Jockeys Championships titles, The Lesters, the inaugural PJA Golf Pro-Am and PJA Champions Dinner, as well as the facility to create bespoke sponsorship packages that meet with organisations marketing objectives.

Chief Executive of The PJA, Josh Apiafi commented Jockeys are fantastic ambassadors within horseracing. They provide a unique marketing and communications platform to the consumers within horseracing, which total over six million individuals in the UK alone and this brochure aims to demonstrate the unique sponsorship opportunities and commercial partnerships The PJA can offer.

To request a hard copy of the brochure, contact Izzy Desailly, Commercial Assistant at The PJA on 01635 44102 or email id@thepja.co.uk or download the brochure from the The PJA section on www.thepja.co.uk.

9th June 2008: NEW GENERAL MANAGER AT NEWCASTLE

NEWCASTLE Racecourse has a new General Manager as the build-up continues to the highlight of the year - the John Smith's Northumberland Plate Festival.

Mark Spincer has taken over from David Williamson, formerly Executive Director, who is now operations director at Newcastle United Football Club.

Like David Williamson before him, he comes to the racecourse from the leisure industry. The 38-year-old worked for the Center Parcs holiday village company as Food & Beverage Concept Manager where he was responsible for more than 50 outlets ranging from fast food to fine dining.

Julie Harrington, Operations Director of Newcastle Racecourse's parent company Northern Racing, said: "We are delighted that Mark has joined us. Over the last few years, under David Williamson's stewardship, Newcastle Racecourse went from strength to strength, and we look forward to Mark helping to bring further successes."

Mark added: "The excellent reputation of Newcastle Racecourse as a sporting and leisure venue is well deserved, and I am thrilled to be joining such a thriving business. This is an exciting time with such large-scale investments having been made in the racecourse's facilities for use on horse racing days and for non-racing events and business."

He has arrived in time for the showpiece occasion of the year at the racecourse - the John Smith's Northumberland Plate Festival - which this year runs from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 June.

9th June 2008: MICHAEL HOWARD APPOINTED AS NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF RACECOURSE GROUP

FOUR months after being appointed a Non-Executive Director of Northern Racing, Michael Howard Q.C. M.P. is now the new Non-Executive Chairman.

Tony Kelly, Group Managing Director of Northern Racing, said: "It makes perfect sense that Michael becomes our Chairman. His experience in a wide sphere of activities and businesses has and will be invaluable to us."

Northern Racing has not had a chairman since it was purchased by Aldersgate Investments Limited, the Reuben Brothers' investment vehicle.

Michael Howard said: "I am of course delighted to accept the appointment of Non-Executive Chairman. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few months as a Director of Northern Racing, and have been impressed with the business and the management teams at each of the courses. I look forward to working with the Executive and the various racing authorities to improve and develop the appeal of racing."

Northern Racing Limited owns nine racecourses - Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Newcastle, Sedgefield and Uttoxeter - and accounts for approximately 14% of all fixtures run in England, Scotland and Wales.

10th April 2008: Flat Racing Sponsorship Showcase Event Announced - Friday 27th June, 2008

Following on from the successful Jump Racing Sponsorship Showcase Event at Cheltenham Racecourse last October, the Horseracing Sponsors Association (HSA) is now teaming up with Newmarket Racecourses to organise a Flat Racing Sponsorship Showcase Event.

Designed to promote flat racing to potential sponsors as well as providing rights holders and existing sponsors with creative ideas and best practice advice, the event will feature sponsorship case studies from well-known organisations involved in flat racing and a workshop with prizes provided to the winning delegate team.

The day will be packed - with the daytime seminar at the Natwest Rowley Mile Racecourse hosted by Channel 4 and Racing UK presenter Nick Luck, followed in the evening by a champagne reception (kindly sponsored by Allertons) and delegate dinner (kindly sponsored by Letheby & Christopher), at the July Racecourse where delegates will enjoy the evening racing followed by Jools Holland and his Band.

Anybody with an interest in horseracing and sponsorship is welcome to attend. The event is free of charge for Horseracing Sponsors Association members and existing sponsors - there will be a fee of £125.00 for all other delegates (the fee includes the seminar, champagne reception, delegate dinner and evening's racing). However, if the delegate's organisation then goes on to join the HSA or sponsor a race or licensed racing yard within six months of the event their fee will be refunded.

For more information or to request an attendance reservation form, please contact Mary-Ann Sandercock, HSA Sponsorship Consultant
email maryann@thehorseracingbusiness.co.uk
telephone 01488 73930 or 07786 925803.