RCA OPERATIONS SEMINAR - Racecourse Association

Issue 3
Issue 3
Update March 2013
March 2013
RCA OPERATIONS SEMINAR
Contents
In association with Cleanevent
An enthusiastic group of Racecourse Operations
Managers gathered in London on Thursday 21 and
Friday 22 February for the inaugural RCA
Operations Seminar, supported by Cleanevent.
The event, which took place in the heartland of
the London Olympic and Paralympic Games,
Stratford, kicked off with a suitably Olympic
theme.
racecourses to raise issues for discussion amongst
the delegates and generally discuss the topics that
have been touched on from both a racing and non
-racing perspective.
Racecourses heard from speakers who were
involved in the planning and delivery of the 2012
Games‟ including Eileen Williams of ESTC Group,
responsible for training the „last mile‟ Olympic
Staff, which included the iconic „Games Maker‟
volunteers, Miriam Flynn (Deputy Health, Safety
and Licensing Manager for the Olympic Park) and
David Demolder (London Legacy Development
Corporation and Head of Health, Safety and
Licensing for the Olympic Venues). The speakers
shared their experiences from their work in the
run up to, and execution of, the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The second day covered a number of other
relevant issues including the new safety
certification process, and management of the
public on racecourses on non-racedays. There
was also time built into the programme for
RCA Racecourse Services Director, Caroline Davies
commented „We are delighted that the
racecourses found the programme informative
with lots of great ideas and learnings for them to
take away. The experience of our guest speakers
in organising possibly the biggest and most
successful sporting events this country has ever
seen is invaluable. We are very grateful to them
all and to Cleanevent for their generous support‟.
James Crespi, Operations Manager at Goodwood
Racecourse commented, 'This was a hugely useful
experience for me and my team. There are
definitely relevant ideas and lessons that we can
take from the massive operation to get the
London Games off the ground last
Summer. Equally, getting to share experiences
with other racecourses was a very valuable
experience. Many thanks to the RCA for putting
the Seminar together‟.
Great British Racing
2-3
BOBIS
3
Perth „Racing Ahead‟
4
Racegoers Club
5
Promotions
5
RaceTech
6-7
HBLB
7
BHEST
8
Spotlight On ……
9
Technical
10-12
Badges & PASS
12
Safety
13
Diary Dates
14
Contributors‟
Contact List
14
Careers in Racing
15-16
Cleanround
17
Ruth Shaw, Chief Executive of the Sports Ground
Safety Authority (SGSA), who addressed the
Seminar on the second day, said, "It was a
pleasure to be involved in the inaugural RCA
Operations Seminar. As well as providing a
platform to share SGSA advice on risk based
safety certification, it gave me the opportunity to
hear from practitioners about their experiences at
racecourses across the country”.
Caroline Davies / Holly Cook
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All Contents above hyperlinked
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Great British Racing
TO BE THE NEW PROMOTIONAL BODY FOR HORSERACING
Racing for Change project becomes permanent function
Additional responsibility for promoting investment in British Racing
Great British Racing is the new name
of racing‟s promotional and
marketing function.
It will continue the work initiated by
Racing for Change, whilst also taking
responsibility for the marketing of
British racing globally, currently
managed by British Bloodstock
Marketing.
The aim of Great British Racing will
be to broaden the appeal of British
Horseracing at every level, with the
objective of increasing participation
and revenues, and protecting and
growing the thousands of jobs that
exist within the sport.
Great British Racing will be run by
Rod Street, Chief Executive of Racing
Enterprises Limited and British
Champions Series Limited, who led
the RfC initiative.
Racing for Change came into being
four years‟ ago as a project designed
to tackle the challenges facing the
industry and to broaden its appeal to
new audiences. At that time, racing
was paying to be televised,
racecourse attendances were flat, the
sport was losing relevance with the
wider media and racing was doing
little to make the most of its
premium assets.
Four years on, a new commercial TV
deal with Channel 4 has created new
revenues and racecourse
attendances increased three years in
succession, breaking through the 6
million barrier in 2011 with a record
6.1m. The sport is gaining relevance
and exposure in the wider media and
racing‟s premium assets are being
used more effectively to generate
additional income and showcase the
sport, both here and abroad.
Major new sponsorship deals from
the likes of QIPCO and Investec are
bringing long term investment into
the sport at the highest level which is
helping to attract the best horses,
further enhancing Britain‟s status as
a World Leader in horseracing.
By actively promoting British
Horseracing, Great British Racing
seeks to increase public exposure to
the sport, thereby making it more
relevant to a wider audience and
increasing interest in it. Greater
interest means racing is more
attractive to broadcasters, sponsors
and potential racehorse owners,
which creates further investment.
The creation of Great British Racing
is supported by racing‟s key
stakeholders, including the RCA,
Horsemen‟s Group, BHA and Levy
Board. It is felt that Great British
Racing is an identity all of racing‟s
participants are proud to endorse.
In addition to its promotional
responsibilities, Great British Racing
will also lead the marketing of British
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Horseracing to domestic and
international high-net worth
individuals, a role previously
undertaken by British Bloodstock
Marketing, which will cease to
function from the end of March.
Great British Racing International will
create a single focus for the sport‟s
promotion globally, seeking to attract
investors with the mantra, Buy in
Britain, Breed in Britain, Train in
Britain, and Race in Britain.
Recruitment of a senior executive to
lead this role is underway.
Chris McFadden, Chairman of Racing
Enterprises Limited said: “As the
sport has evolved so, too, has Racing
for Change. First introduced as a
project, it is now seen as an essential
central, promotional organisation,
mirroring similar permanent
organisations in other major sports.
In this day and age, no national sport
can hope to survive without a long
term strategy for growth, or without
a national resource to market and
promote it.”
“Now, as Racing for Change moves
to become a permanent entity, it
makes sense to give it a title that
communicates its promotional role to
the wider world. Great British
Racing‟s remit will be to continue the
widening of the sport‟s fan base,
helping to grow its revenue streams,
and maintaining British racing‟s
position internationally as the best in
the world.”
Kit Arkwright
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Raceday Experience Group
The Raceday Experience Group met on
15 February 2013. The Racecourses
were represented by Ilona Barnett,
James Crespi, Kimberley Green, Robert
Hogarth, Sally Iggulden, Pip Kirkby,
Ashley Moon, Abi Sawyer and Becky
Somerton. David Fraser of
Harrison:Fraser, James Oldring of
British Champions Series Ltd, Jo
Abraham of Weatherby and James
Savage and Richard Parkes of Deloitte
also attended. Below is a summary of
the discussions:
Price Comparison Research: The
RCA will work with Deloitte to
undertake a price comparison project
of racing with other sporting and
leisure venues. A sub-group has been
formed to develop and agree the
project scope. A representative from
Racing for Change has been invited to
join this group to assist in building the
PR plan into the overall project plan.
Temporary Staff Training: The RCA
will collate and circulate effective
training and motivational techniques
and share these with racecourses. A
„train the trainer‟ Showcase Masterclass
regarding implementation of these
techniques will also be considered.
Responsible Drinking: The RCA will
undertake a research project into how
racecourses and other sports and
leisure industries utilise a responsible
drinking message in a positive manner.
Review of CCTV and Internal
Communications: A questionnaire
compiled by Weatherbys to determine
how customers use the racecard and
what they would like to see included, is
scheduled to be circulated to the
Racing 2015 Database shortly. An
initial update on the findings will be
provided to the Group at its next
meeting.
Working Relationship with REL:
James Oldring attended the meeting,
and provided the Group with an update
on the evolution of Racing for Change
into Great British Racing.
Owners Raceday Experience
Project: Racecourses will be
encouraged to develop a promise of
what they will deliver to owners, either
individually or in Groups, and the RCA
will provide some key
recommendations and suggestions for
inclusion.
2013 Showcase and Awards: The
Group received a verbal report of a
lunch hosted by Ian Barlow to discuss
proposals for the 2013 Showcase
Awards, and a full update would be
provided at the next meeting. In
addition, a „6 Steps to a winning
submission‟ E-booklet was being
prepared, and would be used to assist
in launching the 2013 awards process
to racecourses.
VisitEngland Quality Assured
Racecourse Scheme: It was agreed
that the racecourses would be provided
with a summary report from
VisitEngland following the 2012
assessment visits, along with details of
what quartile they were in during 2012.
Caroline Davies/Holly Cook
BOBIS
British Owners and Breeders Incentive
Scheme (BOBIS) Launches in 2013
The start of the British Flat season
will see the newly launched British
Owners and Breeders Incentive
Scheme (BOBIS) get underway,
supporting the British racing and
breeding industry.
BOBIS awards a bonus of £6,000 for
qualified two-year-old winning a Class
2-4 maiden, nursery or conditions
stakes as well as Class 5 fillies‟
maidens in 2013. Owners will receive
60% of the bonus, with 30% going to
the breeder, and the remainder
divided between the winning trainer,
jockey and stable.
The scheme, which is being overseen
in the short-term by James Oldring,
Operations and Events Director of
British Champions Series, will offer a
prize fund of up to £2.5m in 2013,
with the bonus attached to
approximately 420 races. The number
of BOBIS races is not fixed; if a
racecourse decides to upgrade a race
from Class 5 Maiden to Class 4
Maiden, that race will then qualify for
a BOBIS prize. BOBIS races will be
highlighted to trainers within the hard
copy version of Racing Calendar and
online.
The Levy Board has committed £1.1m
of funding for BOBIS in 2013, with
additional funds being made up of
registration and nomination fees paid
by owners and breeders.
In order to qualify for a BOBIS prize,
a horse must be both registered
(usually by its breeder) and then
3
nominated (usually by its owner).
Races for three-year-olds will be
added to BOBIS in 2014, when a
BOBIS prize will be available for
approximately 900 races in total.
There is no limit to how many BOBIS
prizes a horse can win during its two
and three-year-old career.
Qualifying horses must be out of a
British-domiciled mare and/or by a
British-based sire, and can be
registered via a form downloaded
from the Weatherbys or BOBIS
websites.
For further information visit the
BOBIS website at www.bobis.co.uk.
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Perth Racecourse ‘Racing Ahead’
Perth Racecourse is working to develop a racing concept to
holistically impact the recovery of local cancer patients
In previous copies of UPDATE, we
have explored how racecourses have
seen the mutual benefit of working
with their local communities.
Similarly, the Corporate Social
Responsibility category at the
Showcase Awards addressed this area
and it has been fantastic to see so
many examples of local initiatives
being introduced and developed by
Racecourses around the country.
One such example, which was a
finalist at the 2012 Showcase Awards,
is Perth Racecourse‟s „Racing Ahead‟
concept. This innovative idea was
born in 2012 with the aims of
supporting local cancer patients in
their recovery by offering them a
day‟s racing, with complimentary
hospitality.
In 2012, Perth welcomed 60 cancer
patients racing through the scheme,
which ran over two separate evening
meetings, and has already inspired
other Scottish racecourses to
implement the initiative. „Racing
Ahead‟ has emphasised the
importance of CSR to the racecourse
and staff, and has encouraged them
to also promote other local good
causes, raising £3650 for the STV
Charity Appeal for disadvantaged
children in Scotland (which was
doubled by the Scottish Government)
and increasing their ticket donation to
Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Working in conjunction with the local
Maggies Centre, the Ninewells
Teaching Hospital in Dundee and
Perth Royal Infirmary, the Racecourse
team was able to promote the events
to local cancer patients in the run up
to two selected meetings where a
corporate facility was likely to be
available. Patients were encouraged
to get in touch with the Racecourse to
take up the offer, with a carer offered
a ticket at a reduced rate to join in
also. Patients and their carers were
given the use of a private facility
overlooking the winning post, with
afternoon tea and nibbles, a private
bar and betting facilities.
General Manager Sam Morshead
comments, „Racing Ahead was
developed as a way that Perth
Racecourse could help cancer patients
in Tayside through their recovery by
offering them something to look
forward to‟.
„On certain meetings, we have the
ability to offer facilities that might
otherwise not be full, and we see this
as an excellent way to use them
whilst also promoting racing to a new
audience‟.
Sam Morshead insists that Perth has
seen benefits from its implementation,
„We are happy to be helping local
cancer patients in their recovery and
showing the facilities and racing at
Perth in the best light. We hope that
they will have enjoyed the experience
and that it may also encourage them
to return to the Racecourse in the
future.‟
„The feedback we had from the two
events in 2012 was fantastic, and we
are looking forward to working with
Maggies Centre to welcome them
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again in 2013. „Racing Ahead‟ has
been an excellent innovation for us,
and one that I would encourage more
racecourses to adopt‟.
For more information on Perth
Racecourse‟s „Racing Ahead‟ scheme
and other RCA Showcase Awards
Finalists, please visit:
www.britishracecourses.org.
Sam Cone
Issue 3
Update March 2013
The Racegoers Club
Social Media
The Racegoers Club has launched a new Facebook page. As more of our
members sign up, we will try to share as much content from the racecourses as
we can, so if there is something in particular you want to shout about, please
contact Kelly Mercer.
Please can all courses support the page by adding www.facebook.com/racegoersclub to their likes list. Similarly, we
would be very grateful if you could share our competition to win £50 of tote betting vouchers, which racegoers can
enter by liking The Racegoers Club through our competition app, which can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/racegoersclub#!/racegoersclub/app_197602066931325. Please note the competition
closes on Monday 18 March so share it before then.
The Racegoers Club is also on Twitter and can be found at https://twitter.com/RacegoersClub. We are following all
racecourses, so please follow us and retweet anything you think may be of interest to your followers. If you wish to
speak to The Racegoers Club about Twitter, please contact John Phillips.
John Phillips
Fixture Booklets
We are currently contacting racecourses regarding providing our free
2013 fixture booklet dispensers to be displayed on course.
If you have not yet received a supply of these we will be contacting
you shortly to arrange delivery and distribution (racecourses who only
stage flat turf meetings will be contacted around the beginning of the
season).
Paul Smith
Promotions
The Sun Ticket Offer
The preparation for this is nearly
complete, with Grand National Day –
Saturday 6 April – the intended
launch day for a week of coverage.
The Daily Mail Ticket Offer
The Daily Mail ticket offer launched in the paper in late December,
and also received a brief mention in late February although due to
space constraints the table of meetings was unable to be published
which does considerably affect the response. The offer is, however,
well advertised to Daily Mail website visitors at
www.dailymail.co.uk/promotions.
John Phillips
Racecourse Leaflets
We still require a supply of leaflets or brochures detailing fixtures, admission information and group discounts for 2013 from
the following courses: Beverley, Brighton, Cartmel, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Hamilton Park, Kempton Park, Ludlow,
Musselburgh, Perth, Southwell, Windsor and Wolverhampton.
Please forward some of these on to me as soon as possible as we are already receiving enquiries.
5
Paul Smith
Issue 3
Update March 2013
RaceTech
Maggie Carver to Succeed Tim Curtis as RaceTech Chairman
RaceTech is pleased to announce the appointment of Maggie Carver as Non-Executive
Chairman-elect, to succeed Tim Curtis when he steps down in the summer. She has an
exceptionally strong background in television outside broadcasting and racing and was
the outstanding candidate from a rigorous selection process run jointly by the RCA and
RaceTech.
Maggie Carver is currently Chairman of ITN, a former director of SiS (1991-2008),
Channel 5 and Sporting Index. Executive roles have included Managing Director of
“Three on Four” (which produced Channel 4 racing and operated Global Outside
Broadcasting). She began her working life in investment banking and brings a wealth
of experience and knowledge to RaceTech from a diverse and varied career. We are
greatly looking forward to welcoming her to RaceTech in the next few weeks.
RaceTech and Racecourses
RaceTech is conscious that we need to make personal contact with all of our stakeholders,
not just those that we provide broadcast services for and see regularly. Besides, we may
be able to help in some areas and can offer a highly competitive product so don‟t discount
us just because the broadcast truck isn‟t there!
We are in the process of chatting with a number of ATR racecourses about their PA and
PF services – both raceday services and also audio visual works and cabling for non racing
events – even the most informal chat over a cuppa helps us to understand your
requirements and better tailor our offerings to meet them. We appreciate that you may be
contracted elsewhere, very happy with the service you are receiving or looking for
competitive quotes for the future – RaceTech are in for the long haul. With that in mind, we‟d really welcome the
opportunity to tell you what we are up to – whether you see us on race day or not, and obviously we‟d like to be able to
offer you competitive quotes for infrastructure and enhancement works that you may be carrying out.
RaceTech AV
Our RaceTech AV business has been
busy! RaceTech AV is not only about
providing AV solutions to racecourses,
but is also very successful at securing
business in the wider commercial
community. Often these “wins” are
the result of a robust tender process
that may also include design and build
services, on-going maintenance and a
plethora of technical products and
services – what it proves is that
RaceTech AV is a “competitor” in a
highly price sensitive and service led
marketplace.
RaceTech AV could help you maximise
your financial return beyond racing...
Sweating the racing asset makes more
sense than ever so let us help to
match your offering for events and
business hire to the needs and
expectations of what are becoming an
ever more discerning but ever more
expectant range of B2B customers.
RaceTech AV is a proven experienced
resource at assessing your needs and
designing and delivering pragmatic
audio visual and public address
solutions that are easy to manage and
easy to use, that enable you to
compete with other non-racing
venues, with the aim of capturing the
Business to Business non- racing/
conference trade. RaceTech AV can
provide "business" credible display,
audio, assisted listening and digital
signage solutions helping you to best
utilise the space and facilities you
have whilst also enhancing the race
day experience. From simple portable
projection to digital signage to
6
welcome and "sell" solutions, all that
we do is tailored to providing you with
further flexibility and better
promotional return. Please contact our
dedicated RaceTech AV team on
[email protected] as an email
or 0208 944 4247.
Catherine Pullan
Issue 3
Update March 2013
RaceTech
RaceTech and Social Media
Many of you may have heard Nic
Christodoulu‟s session at the recent
RCA Operations Seminar – full
copies of the presentation will be
available via the RCA, (or contact us
direct.) We are in the testing phase
of a number of creative solutions to
bring social media into the raceday
production of CCTV, and provide a
moderated feed of social media
streams to your racecourse TVs.
This would allow you to display
feeds/comments/Tweets etc from
your social media sites to the
screens around the course and really
update and refresh the format of
CCTV on a raceday.
We would like to invite all
racecourse staff who might be
interested in this to come and see
an office based demo and then we
will pilot some “live” demos on a
raceday, and produce showreels for
those who can‟t attend.
This is part of an on-going rolling
programme of enhancements to
CCTV that we can offer – to give
you some idea, the capabilities of
the HD broadcast vehicles are
enormous and together let‟s tap into
the opportunities that the
technology offers – it‟s there so let‟s
use it!
And lastly…..
Wishing all racecourse staff an enjoyable (and
fruitful!) Cheltenham Festival – we are
working closer than ever with Channel 4 to
provide 4 days of scintillating racing for those
who are watching at home and an enhanced
show for racegoers on the course via CCTV.
Whilst RaceTech staff will be working hard
during racing, do feel free to drop in to the
broadcast vehicles before or after racing and
comments and feedback are always welcome.
See you there!
Catherine Pullan
The Horserace Betting Levy Board
Levy Board Sunday Incentive Fund
The Levy Board announced in
December 2012 the launch of a new
initiative to boost Sunday prize money
following a proposal from the Board‟s
Betting Patterns Working Party
(BPWP). This is not to be confused
with the £5k Sunday Bonus Race
Initiative, funded by the BHA
Development Fund.
The Levy Board will pay a £5,000
supplementary prize money payment
to Racecourse Fixtures on Sundays
which offer prize money of at least
£40,000 at the Programme Book
stage. The £5,000 will then be added
to the value of the advertised card
when it is finalised. The aim is to
provide an incentive for racecourses to
invest in their Sunday race
programmes, so as to raise the quality
of Sunday racing and provide a
potential uplift in betting turnover
levels on that day, which remains the
lowest performing of the week.
For Programme Book 2 onwards the
process will run as follows:
1. At the Programme Book stage a
Racecourse Fixture would be
eligible for a £5,000 grant if its
programmed total prize money was
at least £40,000;
2. The £5,000 would then be added to
the value of the card at the
Calendar stage;
3. The £5,000 would not be paid if the
fixture was abandoned;
4. All Racecourse fixtures on Sundays
are eligible for this payment,
including those fixtures which do
not receive any other HBLB prize
money grant on days where there
are three Racecourse Fixtures.
The total cost of the initiative for the
full year is estimated at £330,000,
which will be provided from the Levy
Board‟s Racing and Betting Incentive
Fund. The success measures for the
initiative will include comparison of
turnover for Sunday racedays in 2013
vs 2012 and 2011.
Natasha Power
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Issue 3
Update March 2013
British Horseracing
Education & Standards
Bangor on Dee and Racing to School Work Together to
Benefit Local Communities in New Count Me In!
The British Horseracing Education
and Standards Trust (BHEST) is
delighted to have got its new Racing
to School – Count Me In programme
off to a great start this year. The
initiative, which is funded by the
Anne Duchess of Westminster‟s
Charity, aims to support children
from deprived areas in Chester,
Wrexham and Liverpool to increase
their numeracy skills, improve their
perception of maths and develop
their confidence.
BHEST‟s Racing to School programme
currently supports over 10,000
children each year to access a oneoff educational experience at their
local racecourse, trainer‟s yard or
stud. Unlike our standard
programme, Racing to School –
Count Me In! engages each child in
two educational visits, one to their
local racecourse and one to a local
stud or trainer‟s yard and a regional
competition to be run later in the
year. All the schools accessing the
days are in deprived areas and
support children who may be less
likely to access learning activities
outside of the classroom.
Having hosted four BHEST days at
Bangor on Dee in February, two on
non-racedays and two on racedays,
we have seen first-hand how much
the children gain from the work of
BHEST. The content seems to work
well and is equally as informative and
accessible to children from all
backgrounds.”
Sam aged 10, accessing his first
activity day at the racecourse
commented, “I have learnt maths
without knowing!” and Morgan aged
10 said, “It was brill and fun to learn
this way.” Mrs Daltrey from St
Anne‟s Catholic Primary said, “A very
enjoyable day – the children were
engaged and enthusiastic about the
activities. A very different and
interesting experience.”
The team at Bangor on Dee
Racecourse have been crucial in
helping BHEST get Count Me In! off
to a flying start, hosting our first
activity days. Jeannie Chantler,
General Manager said, “Bangor on
Dee Racecourse is delighted to be so
closely involved with BHEST in its
Count Me In Project with local
schools.
The Count Me In! project has
enabled Bangor on Dee Racecourse
to continue its commitment to the
local community. Jeannie said, “We
were delighted to find that a
relatively local school Hafod y Wern
where a lot of the children come from
a difficult environment, had been
visited by the BHEST team and was
to be one of the schools to visit
Bangor on Dee.”
A short time ago at Hafod y Wern,
the playing field was not suitable for
use as a football pitch because of a
problem with drainage that led to big
holes in the surface. In order that
the pupils at the school were able to
have a home game of football for the
first time in 12 years, Bangor on
Dee‟s groundstaff worked the
ground, taking equipment and
vehicles and reseeded the area.”
Over the next few months children
from Liverpool, Wrexham and
Chester will continue to participate in
the project with the next activity day
planned to Manor House Stables.
Judith Allen, BHEST Executive
Director said “We were delighted to
receive support from the Anne
Duchess of Westminster‟s Charity to
fund this project and we have been
equally delighted with the response
from local racecourses, studs and
trainers‟ yards. The project would
simply not work without their support
so we are really grateful to them for
their help with Count Me In and our
other programmes.”
Last Chance to Enter the Racing to School
Frankel Challenge Trophy!
The date is fast approaching for the 2013 Racing to School Frankel Challenge
Trophy charity race at Ascot. The race, which BHEST hopes will again raise much
needed funds for its Racing to School programme, will be the last on the card at
the Victoria Cup meeting on Saturday 11 May. As before, the Racing to School
Frankel Challenge Trophy will be run over the straight mile at Ascot and will be
for amateurs and retired jockeys. Places are filling up fast so if you think you
might be interested in participating in the race please contact Mark Kershaw on
07850464258, email [email protected] as soon as possible!
Gemma Lamb
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Issue 3
Update March 2013
Spotlight On …..
Tasha Power
Operations Executive, Horserace Betting Levy Board
Age
Most Fanciable
Racing Personality
Sam Thomas and William Buick. It
wouldn't be fair to not pick one
from each code!
Hobbies
Foodie / reluctant runner (to
counteract the food!) / G&T taster /
ballet fan (watching) / racegoer /
love a good night out dancing /
soon to be riding again after several
years of being horseless.
Favourite Film
The Notebook and Ally McBeal (I'm
a hopeless romantic).
Sales Executive at Huntingdon
Racecourse.
Best Bits About Variety, no two days are the same. I get
Your Job
to meet and work with some great people.
Favourite Holiday
Destination
There's nothing worse than a
Worst Bit About
malfunctioning VLook Up or IF formula in
Your Job
excel.
Best Racing
Experience(s)
Racing Hero
Amy Starkey for her amazing
achievements. Rod Street for his
unflappable positive attitude and
consistent cheery demeanour. All
stable staff for their extraordinary
hard work and dedication in all
weathers and at all times of the
day.
27
Marital Status/ Married/none/soon to acquire an ex
Children/Pets racehorse.
Previous
Career(s)
Worst Racing
Experience
Falling over - quite spectacularly on a wet floor in the weighing room
at Huntingdon in front of every
trainer, jockey and official. I was
carrying a trophy, which survived my pride, not so much.
So many great moments to choose from
but two I won't forget in a hurry are
watching Kauto Star and Ruby receiving a
huge round of applause when he pulled up
and cantered home safe in the 2012 Gold
Cup, I've never felt so much emotion from
a crowd for a horse that didn't win. It
gave me goose bumps and a lump in my
throat. The second is backing 5 winners in
a row at Doncaster on St Leger afternoon
2011. That was a good day.
9
Current Wheels
Cambodia, or anywhere in Asia.
Toyota Celica.
Collaborative approach and sharing
One Wish To Improve
of information to improve and
The Industry
streamline projects and issues.
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Technical
Concert events - Siting of Stages
With the raceday concert season soon upon us, Racecourse Executives are asked to bear in mind and ensure that the
requirements of BHAGI 3.3 para 3 (see below) are met when considering the location of stages. It is essential that
Stewards/integrity sight lines are not compromised as a result of the siting process.
BHAGI 3.3 para 3
In addition, plans of any other proposed building work which, once constructed, may interfere with the sight lines of:
a) the Stewards or BHA Officials, or,
b) any position used by the integrity services
must be sent to the Racecourse Department and Integrity Service Providers as soon as they have been drawn up.
Fraser Garrity
Off Times
The BHA has recently conducted the annual review of off times, and after 4 years of significant reductions, 2012 saw a
leveling off of the overall percentage. 2012 saw 7.07% of races starting more than 3 minutes late, reduced from over
11% in 2007.
The aim for 2013 is to keep the issue in the spotlight and achieve further reductions to under 7%, and all of the sports
participants and relevant bodies will be encouraged to help achieve this.
Full details and analysis of the 2012 late off times are available in the Racecourse section of the Resource Centre on the
BHA website - http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/racecourse/off-times.asp
Fraser Garrity
10
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Technical
Newton Abbot to trial new ‘one-fit’ padded hurdle design



New hurdle design will be used
throughout Newton Abbot's Summer
Jumping programme
Objective of new design is to further
improve safety and reduce injuries
Racecourse trial match-funded by
Newton Abbot and British
Horseracing Grant Scheme
Newton Abbot Racecourse is pleased to
announce details of the racecourse trial
of a new „one-fit‟ padded hurdle
design, which will be used during all
hurdle races throughout the 2013
Summer Jumping programme. The
modified hurdle design has been
researched and developed by the
British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and
will be first used at Newton Abbot‟s
meeting on 30 March 2013.
The new design consists of a standard
timber hurdle frame, with a specially
fitted foam pad frontage rather than
the traditional birch. As part of the
BHA‟s commitment to maximising
participant safety, both equine and
human, it is anticipated that the
potential benefits of the new design
could include a reduction in injuries for
both horse and rider. The BHA, in
conjunction with racecourses, have
made a number of important safety
and welfare improvements to hurdles
in recent years and this development is
part of this ongoing process.
The new design has been trialled
extensively over the past 18 months,
including periods on two major training
schooling grounds, as well as extended
sessions with several leading Jumps
trainers. The racecourse trial is
therefore an important next step and is
supported by the National Trainers
Federation (NTF), the Professional
Jockeys Association (PJA) and the
Racecourse Association (RCA). The trial
will be monitored on an ongoing basis
throughout the year.
The trial is being match funded by both
Newton Abbot and the British
Horseracing Grant Scheme, the
mechanism that was set up to
distribute the first £1million of
proceeds from the sale of the Tote, to
worthwhile projects in or associated
with the British thoroughbred Racing
and Breeding industries.
Patrick Masterson, Managing Director
of Newton Abbot Racecourse, said:
“We are extremely excited at the new
hurdle design both from a horse
welfare perspective and the positive
support it is receiving from both the
NTF and PJA. Newton Abbot are
delighted to support this trial for our
forthcoming season and hopes this
ongoing development process is well
received and supported.”
Richard Linley, Senior Inspector of
Courses at the BHA, said: “We‟ve been
coordinating this project for some time
and riders and trainers gave us plenty
of useful feedback during the schooling
phase. This trial is key to whether the
design is adopted at other courses in
the years ahead."
Jockey Andrew Thornton, one of the
PJA's Safety Officers, said: “The PJA is
supportive of anything that has the
potential to benefit the welfare of the
sport‟s participants, and we therefore
welcome this trial. If the new design
can lead to fewer falls and fewer
injuries for horses, then it can only be
a positive thing for the welfare of
Jockeys.”
For further information please
contact: Patrick Masterson
Managing Director, Newton Abbot
Racecourse
t: 01626 353235
e:[email protected]
Jason Loosemore
Clerk of the Course, Newton Abbot
Racecourse.
t: 07766228109
Weather Report
The January 2013 Weather Report (for England and Wales) from the Environment Agency can be accessed by
clicking on http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/WSR_Jan2013.pdf
Racecourse Groundstaff Course
Introduction to Racecourse Groundsmanship
Cheltenham Racecourse: Tuesday 23 April – Wednesday 24 April 2013
Racecourse Groundstaff Turf Management Course
British Racing School, Newmarket: Sunday 10 November – Friday 15 November 2013
There are places available on the above courses. For information please contact Lisa Gray at the Institute of
Groundsmanship, 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TW, Telephone: 01908
312511, e-mail: [email protected]
11
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Medical
Pre Hospital Trauma Management Training
Medipro now offers a three day Pre Hospital Trauma Management training courses at Stokesley in North Yorkshire, and
have once again generously agreed to offer a 10% discount for RMOs on these courses, and RMOs should advise that
they act in this capacity when booking.
Full details of the courses, dates for 2013, and details of how to book can be found on the Medipro website along with
details of a number of other training course which may be of interest to Racecourse Medical Officers http://mediprotraining.co.uk
Racing and Equestrian Medical Officers Training
The Racing and Equestrian Medical Officers course run by Dr Bob Bennett has full approval from the Royal College of
Surgeons of Edinburgh.
The next course will be held on 7 and 8 September 2013 (Booking closes 17.08.2013) in Preston.
Full details of these courses, including how to book a place, and a number of other training courses which may be of
interest to Racecourse Medical Officers are available at www.eventmed.co.uk
Badges & Pass
PASS
We are pleased to advise those courses operating PASS that we are able to maintain the charge for 2013 at £89.50 per
day, the same rate as 2012.
Contact Jackie Tizzard at [email protected]
Badge Posters
Missing Badges
8 copies of the large poster and 4 copies of the
A4 sized poster for 2013 have been sent to all
racecourses. Extra copies and electronic copies
are available on request.
RCA:
Press:
PJA:
NTF:
Officials:
420, 933, 934, 1144, 1726
None reported to date
55, 56, 104, 105, 116, 117, 340, 351
12, 369, 456, 713, 664, 840, 1362
80
RCA & Press Badge Lists
Copies of the lists of 2013 RCA and Press
Badges holders are available on request.
Holly Cook
12
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Safety
A safety advisor gets shipwrecked. When he wakes up,
he's on a beach. The sand is purple. He can't believe it.
The sky is purple. He walks around a bit and sees that
there is purple grass, purple birds and purple fruit on the
purple trees. He's shocked when he finds that his skin is
starting to turn purple too.
"Oh no!" he says. "I think I've been marooned!"
OK that‟s so bad here‟s another…
Mercedes Car - 0
One day in the jungle a chimpanzee invented some tools
to eat his dinner. One tool was a flat stick sharpened along
one edge, this he used to cut his food. The other was a
stick with four smaller sticks attached to the end each
sharpened to a point. He used to spear his food and place
it in his mouth. The chimp was very proud of his inventions
which he called his one point tool and his four point tool.
Ukrainian Hammer Thrower - 1
”Gorilla, Gorilla!” he cried, “Have you seen my four point
tool?” ”No” replied the gorilla, “I have not seen your four
point tool”.
Then the chimp came upon the jaguar. ”Jaguar, Jaguar!”
he cried, “Have you seen my four point tool?” ”Yup!”
replied the jaguar, “I‟ve seen your four point tool”. ”Well
where is it?” inquired the chimp. ”I ate it” said the jaguar,
smugly. ”Why would you do that?” cried the chimp.
”Because” replied the big cat, “I‟m a four point tool eater
jaguar!”
One day he awoke to find that the four point tool was
missing. The chimp was distraught. He ran around the
jungle trying to find his precious tool. First he came upon
the lion. ”Lion, Lion!” he cried, “Have you seen my four
point tool?” ”No” replied the lion, “I have not seen your
four point tool”. Then the chimp came upon the gorilla.
(That‟s even worse - The Ed)
Further Corporate Manslaughter Prosecution Announced
A water sports club in Middlesex has
been charged under the Corporate
Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007
following the death of a girl in 2010.
In February 2013, Prince‟s Sporting
Club Ltd appeared at Westminster
Magistrates‟ Court where in addition
to the Corporate Manslaughter
charge, the company has been
charged with a breach of section 3 of
the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974.
One of the company‟s directors will
also face prosecution under section
37 of the 1974 Act. Section 37
allows for a director or officer of a
company to be held criminally
responsible for health and safety
offences where the company itself is
found guilty of a health and safety
offence and the offence was
committed with the consent or
connivance of, or was attributable to
any neglect on the part of the
director or manager. As well as this
prosecution, the incident is also
thought to have started a review of
the Adventure Activities Licensing
Authority, which has never included
riding on towed inflatables as an
activity requiring assessment or
subject to the licensing.
Number of Companies facing Corporate
Manslaughter Prosecutions
THE number of new corporate manslaughter cases opened by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) rose 40 per cent
from 2011 as more companies face accusations over work-related deaths1. There were 63 cases opened last year
compared to 45 in 2011. Records only date from 2009 – two years after the introduction of the Corporate
Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which allows the convictions of companies for deaths from management
failures which constitute “a gross breach of a duty of care”.
1
Figures compiled by Pinsent Masons.
Dr Louise Smail
13
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Diary Dates
Tuesday 12- Friday 15 March
Friday 22 March
Wednesday 27 March
Thursday 28 March
Cheltenham Festival
BHA Racecourse Committee
RCA Racing Committee
RCA Board
Wednesday 10 April
Thursday 11 April
RCA Technical Group
RCA Raceday Experience Group
Tuesday 19 November
Go Racing in Yorkshire Annual Awards 2013 - Doncaster Racecourse
Contributors’ Contact List
Arkwright, Kit
Cone, Sam
Cook, Holly
Davies, Caroline
Garrity, Fraser
Phillips, John
Power, Natasha
Pullan, Catherine
Sandercock, Mary-Ann
Smail, Dr Louise
Smith, Paul
Swain, Paul
Walker, Carol
0207 152 0227
01344 626067
01344 873536
01344 873536
0207 152 0152
01344 626067
0207 802 3890
0208 947 3333
07786 925803
0161 445 7872
01344 625912
01344 873536
01344 873536
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
EDITOR: Carol Walker
The Racecourse Association Ltd
UPDATE is also available on our website:
www.britishracecourses.org
14
Issue 3
Update March 2013
BHA Overview Day
15
Issue 3
Update March 2013
Careers
in
Racing
16
Issue 3
Update March 2013
CleanRoundTM - A Silent Killer has entered the Market
The Racecourse Newbury have chosen Clean
Round’s revolutionary biocide infection
control solution to raise their level of bio
security and move toward a more
environmentally friendly disinfection policy.
Shelley Perham CleanRound‟s agent for the Racing
Industry has been introducing the Yard Wash product
which is approved by DEFRA and the BHA to trainers and
studs in Lambourn and Newmarket. The yard wash and
fogging solution which kills 99.999% of bacteria, virus's
and fungi can be put directly into a power washer and
fogging machine and is a non toxic, non corrosive,
powerful disinfectant who's active ingredient 'Duo Max' is
used widely in the NHS to kill MRSA. Having worked for
Hon Harry Herbert at Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds (now
Highclere) and as an amateur jockey for Richard Hannon,
Shelley understands the challenges that the Racing
Industry face.
“I'm very excited that Newbury have become
the first racecourse to come on board and I‟m getting
very positive vibes from other courses whom are trialling
the product such as Beverley and Fairyhouse. In March, I
began showing trainers in Lambourn and the UK &
Irish Bloodstock Sales Companies what CleanRound was
capable of and I'm proud to say that the majority are
now „CleanRound Clean‟. Their endorsement for the
product has been astounding.
The yard wash and shampoo, which has revolutionised
the treatment for eradicating Ring Worm in the racing
industry, shares the same active ingredient which is 'Duo
Max ', produced by Duo Tech in Bristol. Racecourses now
have a product that will take their Bio Security to a whole
new level, which is cost effective, labour saving and
environmentally friendly.”
Richard Osgood, Clerk of the Course & Estate
Manager Newbury Racecourse, says “We trialled
the Yard Wash product Shelley provided us with for
several months and have now converted the racecourse
to Clean Round to increase our levels of bio security and
support the racecourses green environmental strategy by
using a non toxic disinfectant. The staff like working with
it and above all it does the job it is intended for. As well
as using it in the stables, we also use it to clean our
equine equipment and are looking into its uses for
disinfecting our floors and other areas of the racecourse
as well as the Jockey‟s areas and medical room‟.
SALLY IGGULDEN – Chief Executive & Clerk of the
Course Beverley Racecourse “Clean Round is a really
effective product and the ground staff far preferred using
it to other products we have used due to its non toxic
smell‟.
CLEAN ROUND – YARD WASH AND FOGGING
SOLUTION FOR POWER WASHERS AND FOGGING
MACHINES - 5 Litres 20 Litres 1000 Litres
•
DEFRA LISTED
•
BHA APPROVED
•
ECO FRIENDLY, NON TOXIC, NON
CORROSIVE, NON IRRITANT
•
PROVEN TO KILL 99.999% OF BACTERIA,
VIRUSES AND FUNGI
INCLUDING ASPERGILLUS, RING
WORM & HELPS STOP THE SPREAD OF
STREPTOCOCCUS EQUI (CAUSES
STRANGLES)
For More information Contact:
Shelley Perham on 07753982052
email: [email protected] or
Bob Walker 07802952888
email: [email protected]
web: www.cleanround.co.uk
Clive Cox – Lambourn Trainer: „It‟s just nice to have a
product that actually works‟.
17