7/26/2019 Uttoxeter Racecourse 2016 Betfred Midlands Grand National

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MEDIA RELEASE 27 JANUARY 2016

THE GOING LOOKS GOOD FOR THE 2016 MIDLANDS GRAND NATIONAL

Betfred Mid!"d# Gr!"d N!ti$"!% Utt$&eter R!'e'$(r#e

S!t(rd!)% 1* M!r'+

One of the most colourful sporting events on the Midlands calendar will take place at

Uttoxeter Racecourse on Saturday 19 March, oosted y a igger pri!e money fund than

ever efore"

#he decision taken y $rena Racing %ompany&s '$R%( at the end of last year to offer more

than )*+ million worth of pri!e money across the 1* fixtures run at $R% racecourses in

*-1. demonstrated the parent company&s commitment to all levels of the sport, as well as to

the famous Staffordshire racecourse which hosts the Midlands /rand 0ational fixture"

#he etfred Midlands /rand 0ational has een run at Uttoxeter every year since 19.9, and

pri!e money for *-1. has risen from )1--,--- to )12-,--- 3 helping to oth raise its profile,

and ensuring its future, amongst the finest owners and trainers in the world of horseracing"

4hat that also helps to guarantee, of course, is that race day at Uttoxeter on 19 March is

likely to e even more of a spectacle as well"

#hese days, the event attracts crowds of around 1.,--- people5 from regular horseracing

fans and corporate guests, through to an ever3growing numer of people who are simply

attracted y the idea of 6a day at the races7"

#he second largest steeplechase in the U8, after the $intree /rand 0ational, the race is the

main focus of what is now widely regarded as one of the highlights of the horseracing world"

 $nd the Racecourse is now making the running in a new drive to ensure that this and future

events at Uttoxeter ecome ever3more inclusive, accessile and family3friendly"

7/26/2019 Uttoxeter Racecourse 2016 Betfred Midlands Grand National

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6#here&s an air of excitement, anticipation and atmosphere which uilds from the moment the

gates are opened, to the end of the last race, on Midlands /rand 0ational ay,7 says

:xecutive irector of Uttoxeter Racecourse, avid Maconald" 64e&re oviously delighted

at the increase in pri!e money this year, and we&re confident we can now uild on what has

already firmly ecome one of the est days out in Staffordshire"7

;nitial details of the *-1. etfred /rand 0ational have een announced at the same time

that #he Racecourse $ssociation 'R%$( revealed attendances across ritain&s racecourses

rose y "2< in *-1, to exceed the six million mark for the first time since *-11" #otal

attendances across ritain&s 9 racecourses reached .,1*9,=22 in *-1 which was 2-9,=.2

more than *-1= and >ust *1,+1- short of the *-11 record '.,11,*=2(" $verage attendances

also rose to =,*. per fixture, a ="=< increase on the *-1= figure of =,-?." #his is the

highest average attendance since *--? '=,2?.(" *-1 is the third year in a row that

attendances have risen, highlighting the growing popularity of racing as a sport as well as a

social event, with many racecourses 3 including Uttoxeter Racecourse 3 offering a road

range of entertainment and free entry for Under 1.s"

#he etfred Midlands /rand 0ational itself has a long history and is highly regarded in

racing circles" @eaturing some of the est chasers3in3training, some of its previous winners

have gone on to achieve glory in the $intree /rand 0ational and the %heltenham /old %up"

Aast year saw B"B"urke ride /oonyella to victory in a race which saw $"C"Mc%oy&s final

competitive appearance at the racecourse"

#ickets, starting from )1 and rising to )=*, are already availale for the etfred Midlands

/rand 0ational" @urther information, including details of hospitality packages, can e found

at http5DDwww"uttoxeter3racecourse"co"ukDmidlands3grand3nationalD"

#ickets can also e purchased on the day at the entrance"ENDS

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7/26/2019 Uttoxeter Racecourse 2016 Betfred Midlands Grand National

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F!'e$$/. Utt$&eter R!'e'$(r#e

NOTES TO EDITORS.

A$(t AR9.

 $rena Racing %ompany '6$R%7( is the largest racecourse operator in the U8" ;n *-1. $R%

racecourses will host 1* fixtures with total pri!e money of over )*+ million" :ach year 1"*

million people attend racing at one of $R%&s racecourses"

 $R% is made up of the following fifteen racecourses5 ath, righton, %hepstow, oncaster,

@fos Aas, @ontwell Cark, /reat Earmouth, Aingfield Cark, 0ewcastle, Royal 4indsor,

Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, 4olverhampton and 4orcester"

 $R% runs three of the five all3weather racecourses in the U8 offering three different types of 

surface for horses to run on5 Colytrack at Aingfield Cark, firesand at Southwell Racecourse

and the only tapeta racing surface in :urope at 4olverhampton Racecourse" $R% is

currently investing over )11 million in the facilities at 0ewcastle Racecourse which will see

racing commence on a second tapeta racing surface in /reat ritain from May *-1."

;n *-12 $R% pioneered the $ll34eather %hampionships which see horses compete

throughout the winter for the chance of Fualifying for a )1"1 million @inals ay on /ood

@riday at Aingfield Cark" #his initiative is helping raise the profile and prestige of all3weather 

racing in /reat ritain"

 $R% hosts racing at all levels of the sport from %lass ? through to /roup 1s" oncaster 

Racecourse is home to the world&s oldest %lassic, the St Aeger, run each year in Septemer 

as part of the four3day St Aeger @estival" @eature >umps races include the /rade 1 @ighting@ifth Gurdle at 0ewcastle Racecourse, the 4elsh 0ational at %hepstow Racecourse and

Midlands 0ational at Uttoxeter Racecourse"

 $s well as racing, $R% also operates a hotel at 4olverhampton Racecourse, a hotel, spa

resort and golf course at Aingfield Cark and #he order Minstrel pulic house at 0ewcastle

Racecourse in the grounds of /osforth Cark"

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 $R% is the ma>ority shareholder in the horseracing #H channel $t #he Races which is

roadcast on the Sky platform to c"1= million homes, and a BH partner with Racing U8 in

/; Racing which sells U8 and ;rish Racing to etting shop operators around the world"

 $R% plays a pivotal role in ritish Racing" ;t is a shareholder in ritish %hampions Series

and Racecourse ata %ompanyI a signatory to a ritish Gorseracing $uthority&s and

Gorsemen&s /roup Cri!e Money $greementI and on the oards of the Racecourse

 $ssociation '6R%$7(, Racing :nterprises Aimited '6R:A7( and /reat ritish Racing '6/R7("

 $R% employs over -- permanent staff and engages with 2,-- casual staff for racing and

events across its racecourses" @urther information aout $R% can e found at

www"arenaracingcompany"co"uk"