By: Iain Ferguson
AYR Racecourse has been named as a finalist in two categories for the Prestigious Showcase & Awards hosted by the Racecourse Association (RCA).
The Showcase & Awards is the marquee event of British racecourses that celebrate excellence and innovation in partnership with Moet Hennessy, Racing Post and Great British Racing.
Ayr is a finalist in the Love The Sport category which celebrates initiatives that both enrich and extend the reach of the sport to customers.
Ayr Racecourse launched a unique Five Go Racing concept to benefit their Partner Charity Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Covering the cost of training five horses with five local trainers, the concept aimed to provide customers with a taste of ownership, the experience that attracts and retains people to horse racing, to sectors of the public who would never have otherwise had this opportunity - or had never even considered racehorse ownership. Auctioning the innovative, engaging insight into the world of racehorse ownership provided Ayrshire Cancer Support with fundraising opportunities from which they importantly increased brand awareness.
The second award Ayr is shortlisted for is in the Owners Experience category which is nominated by Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) members.
For this award, members of the ROA were invited to nominate racecourses for examples of where they had met and exceeded expectations relating to the raceday experience for owners.
Paul Swain, RCA Brand & Experience Manager, said: “I am thrilled For Ayr Racecourse for their success in being named a finalist in two categories at the 2019 Showcase & Awards.
“Competition for these awards continues to grow each year. Our finalists represent the best of British Racecourses and should all be immensely proud of the work they’ve done to enhance the customer experience and their racecourse overall.”
David Brown, Managing Director of Ayr Racecourse, said: “I am thrilled and delighted that Ayr has been named as a finalist in two categories for the Showcase & Awards.
“We pride ourselves on looking after owners of horses running at the track, while through our foray into the world of racehorse ownership we have helped our chosen charity.”
The Showcase & Awards will be held at Hamilton Park Racecourse on Thursday 14 November.
About the Showcase & Awards
This is the tenth annual Showcase & Awards, the marquee event of the Racecourse Association (RCA) to celebrate excellence and innovation amongst British Racecourses in partnership with Moët Hennessy, Great British Racing and Racing Post.
It is renowned as the event to attend, learn from, engage with, support and celebrate racecourses. The daytime seminar and evening black tie awards ceremony are both guided by the principle themes of excellence and innovation, which we encourage all racecourses to apply to every element of the raceday experience.
This year’s event will be held on Thursday 14 November at Hamilton Park Racecourse.
The independent judging panel this year was comprised of Pam Foden (Director, Pam Foden & Associates), Lee Mottershead (Senior Writer, Racing Post), Alan Park (Operations Director, Center Parcs), George Foster (Client Services Director, Two Circles), Peter Clare (Senior Partner, Seven League) and Pip Kirkby (Industry Liaison Officer, Racehorse Owners Association)
Nominations for the RCA Outstanding Achievement Award were considered by RCA Chairman Maggie Carver, Vice-Chairman Charles Barnett and Chief Executive David Armstrong.
About the Racecourse Association
The Racecourse Association (RCA), formed in 1907, is the trade association for British racecourses. 59 racecourses are members and have equal voting rights.
The RCA has owned RaceTech since March 1998. The RCA serves the interests of its 59 British racecourse members both inside and outside the sport, empowering them to be the best venues that they can be. The RCA is responsible for the management of the Racegoers Club, the official fan club of British Racing.
The RCA works on behalf of racecourses to represent their views within the sport through the tripartite structure of the Members’ Agreement alongside BHA and The Horsemen’s Group. Outside of horseracing, the RCA works alongside the Government, other sports and leisure venues, and national charities to meet the needs of racecourses.
Additionally, the RCA encourages and facilitates racecourse community engagement, involvement in horse welfare initiatives, responsible drinking campaigns, and various other partnerships within the sport. The Showcase & Awards, the marquee event of British Racecourses to celebrate and reward excellence and innovation, is hosted by the RCA annually in November.
For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292 294972 or 07795 565691.
Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
