Annual Review and Outlook 2019
than other sports amongst our racing crowds and our workforce, while men and women compete on equal terms as participants in our sport. But we need to do more and say more about diversity and inclusion. We need to ensure our sport is truly representative of our society for it to sustain and thrive. The Jockey Club has set up our own Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group and we are also contributing to wider industry efforts. I look forward to seeing significant progress in the years ahead. JOCKEY CLUB RACECOURSES As the largest part of our Group, much of what I have referred to relates to Jockey Club Racecourses, our 15-strong racecourse arm led by Paul Fisher. In 2018, as well as welcoming many of the world’s best horses, trainers and jockeys to race at our events, and distributing the largest sums of prize money in the history of our sport, we also attracted attendances of 1.8 million spectators, while millions of people watched and listened to broadcasts from our media rightsholders. Several popular events descending on Cheltenham for The Festival in 2018, rising to 266,779 in March 2019. Beyond racing, our venues play host to thousands of events a year and another estimated two achieved record crowds, including 262,367 people
million people attended these activities in 2018. Racing can be very proud of staging more of the top ten of Britain’s most attended events than any other sport. It is essential that we customers and participants across all of our venues. This is challenging because we are operating as a capital- constrained business investing through profits and debt financing. However, last year we were able to spend just under £10 million on capital projects in 2018. Projects included a range of facilities improvements with examples being the Hatherleigh Suite at Wincanton, the customer entrance at Warwick, the refurbishment of the 4th floor continue to invest in the experience we offer to
boxes at Cheltenham and enhancements to The Princess Royal Stand roof customer area at Aintree. We also dedicated a specific programme of investment to equine welfare-related improvements, including railings, horsewalks and washdown areas, given our significant focus in this area. A key part of the customer experience at Jockey Club Racecourses is delivered through Jockey Club Catering Campbell. I hope that everyone who has been racing with us would agree that our food and beverage offering goes from strength-to-strength, in general enclosures, owners and trainers, and hospitality spaces, with an emphasis on quality and value. – our joint venture with Compass plc led by Nick
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