Uttoxeter Racecourse celebrates big rise in attendance
James Elston, Commercial Manager of Uttoexter Racecourse looking forward to another succesful year. Photo by Robert Anthony Horne
Uttoxeter Racecourse chiefs say a rise in attendance figures is the culmination of hard work from everyone at the Staffordshire circuit.
Executive director David MacDonald revealed the venue has seen an 11 per cent rise, with 118,000 people attending meetings in 2011.
It comes as national figures show an average rise of 6.6 per cent at horse racing venues across the UK.
Mr MacDonald told StaffsLive: “2011 saw record figures achieved at the course for both The Midlands Grand National and The Summer National.
“The figures here are even better than the national trend.”
Figures released by the Racing Association showed the rise with over six million people visiting racecourses around Britain, with one million coming in the month of July alone.
Mr MacDonald pointed to the hard work of his team as the main reason for a successful 2011.
He said: “Our efforts were rewarded when we were awarded the Regional Best Small Racecourse at the turn of the year.
“We have a fantastic team here and we are aiming to keep improving in 2012.”
James Elston, commercial manager of the course, added: ”We were extremely lucky with the weather last year.
“Our calendar was only interrupted once and our big meetings the Midlands National, Beer Festival & Ladies Night events were bathed in sunshine, adding to the figures.
“With the Midlands National coming up on March 17, we are able to attract the cream of the crop in jockeys to that AP, Ruby Walsh, Jason Maguire come here on the back of Cheltenham week and we get a bumper crowd.”
Tomorrow (January 28), the course stages the Punters Club meeting. Mr Elston said they are looking at starting the year off strongly.
“We are expecting at minimum 5,000 but if the weather permits we might get closer to 7,000.”
Tickets for the meeting start at £9. Tickets are also available for the showpiece Midlands National on March 17, with packages available as well as single tickets at £14.
Category: Sport
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