15th October 2023 at 09:00 GMT
YORKSHIRE–(GO RACING IN YORKSHIRE via YORKSHIRE.COM)– Yorkshire racecourses have received 11 shortlistings for the 2023 Racecourse Assocation Showcase
Awards.
The Racecourse Association (RCA), in partnership with Great British Racing (GBR), Racing Post, Racing Together and the Racing Foundation, is delighted to confirm the Finalists for the 2023 Showcase Awards following deliberation by its independent judging panel.
From July-September, all British racecourses were invited to submit entries to the Showcase Awards across eight core categories chosen to reflect the diverse operation of a racecourse. In addition, two public-voted awards offer customers the opportunity to have their say and crown their racecourse of the year in raceday and owners’ experience. The RCA received 67 racecourse entries in total plus almost 5,000 votes from the racegoing public.
In Yorkshire, York leads the way with four nominations in the Food & Beverage, Racing Together Community Award, Racing Foundation Green Award and the RCA/ROA Owner’s Racecourse of the Year Award.
Ripon, Pontefract and Doncaster have got two nominations each, with Ripon contesting the Racing Foundation Green Award and the Marketing award, Pontefract are in the Diversity & Inclusion and the Raceday categories. They are joined by Doncaster in the Diversity & Inclusion category and their second nomination is for a Non-Raceday event.
Representing all the courses, Go Racing In Yorkshire has been shortlisted in the Food & Beverage category with their HoofBeat bitter, brewed for the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet.
Ben Warn, Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire said;
“It’s brilliant to see the Yorkshire courses hold so many nominations across the categories. The Yorkshire courses are constantly striving to build upon the high bar they have already set themselves for raceday experience and these nominations show that they are being recognised for their hard work.”
Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA, commented:
“Congratulations to our 2023 Showcase Finalists. This list represents the best of British racecourses over the past 12 months and demonstrates their commitment to providing a fantastic experience for participants and racegoers alike.
“It was a particularly strong year for Yorkshire racecourses, with five of the nine tracks plus group marketing organisation Go Racing In Yorkshire all nominated as Finalists.
“Our independent judging panel commented on the high standard of entries this year which was evident when considering the scores awarded.
“I am thrilled to share details of these excellent initiatives. There is an abundance of best practice that should be replicated across the sport and the RCA will ensure this is front and centre of our raceday experience programme in 2024.
“My thanks to all racecourses in supporting the Showcase Awards, our independent judging panel for their time and expertise and to our partners who help elevate this event.
Alongside hosts Aintree Racecourse, the RCA is eagerly anticipating the Showcase Seminar & Awards on Thursday 23rd November where we will crown this year’s winners and overall Champion Racecourse.”
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Editors Notes
Go Racing In Yorkshire
Go Racing In Yorkshire is the central marketing organisation for Yorkshire’s nine racecourses. It is funded by the racecourses and the sale of the annual season ticket which allows admission to all of Yorkshire’s race meetings.
Contact: Charlotte Russell, charlotte.russell@goracing.co.uk or 07305 932411.
The Racecourse Association
For more information about the Showcase Seminar & Awards please contact Paul Swain – paul.swain@racecourseassociation.co.uk or 07791 414027.
About the Showcase & Awards
This is the twelfth annual Showcase Seminar & Awards, the marquee event of the Racecourse Association (RCA) to celebrate excellence and innovation amongst British Racecourses in partnership with Great British Racing, Racing Post, the Racing Foundation and Racing Together.
It is renowned as the event to attend, learn from, engage with, support and celebrate racecourses. The daytime seminar and evening awards ceremony are both guided by the principle themes of excellence and innovation, which we encourage all racecourses to apply to every element of racecourse operation and raceday experience.
This year’s event will be held on Thursday 23 rd November at Aintree Racecourse.
The independent judging panel this year was comprised of Ann-Marie Blake (Co-Founder True Communications & Founding Board Member of PRCA Race Ethnicity and Equity Board), Martin Dalby (Chairman, Center Parcs UK & IRE), Lee Mottershead (Senior Writer, Racing Post), George Foster (Managing Director UK Servies & Products, Two Circles) and Louise Norman (Head of Ownership, Racehorse Owners Association).
There are eight core Showcase Award categories and two public-voted Awards. The Racing Post Readers’ Award Racegoers invites racegoers to nominate their favourite racecourse and score out of 100 on customer service, value for money and overall raceday experience. The racecourse with the highest combined average score, subject to a minimum number of votes, will be crowned the winner. The RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year asks all racehorse owners to nominate and score based on ownership experience with and without a runner plus the raceday experience.
The Showcase Champion is decided by the highest combined score from all core entries (barring Racing Post Readers’ Award and RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year). To qualify, racecourses must be nominated as a Finalist in at least two core categories.
About the Racecourse Association
The Racecourse Association (RCA), formed in 1907, is the representative body for British
racecourses. 59 racecourses are members and have equal voting rights. 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 works on behalf of racecourses to represent their views within the sport. 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.
Since 1998, the RCA has owned RaceTech, the dedicated technical facilities provider that has maintained British Racing at the forefront of global broadcast technology.
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Press Release Contacts
- Go Racing In Yorkshire – 01937580051
- Charlotte Russell – 07305 932411 – charlotte.russell@goracing.co.uk
- https://www.goracing.co.uk