Ripon Racecourse has been crowned as ‘Best Small Racecourse in Northern England’ once again for 2015. After being awarded the title in 1996, 2003, 2009, 2011 & 2014, Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse is the first racecourse in the ‘Small North’ category to win the award in back to back years.
These prestigious awards are always eagerly anticipated by the racecourses. With the Club’s 5,000 strong membership going racing on average over 30 times per year, and travelling far and wide thanks to the Club’s extensive concession scheme and comprehensive diary of social events, no-one is better qualified to reward the worthy national and regional winners.
This year’s award follows substantial maintenance and refurbishment work over the past few years which has seen Ripon invest in various new bar facilities and the introduction of their own on-course betting operator ‘RiponBET’. Their 2016 season which starts with an afternoon of racing on Thursday 14th April, before their St George’s Day celebrations on Saturday 24th April.
The Board of Directors is committed to continuing investment to keep building on the great quality racing and functionality of the racecourse. This winters project has seen a complete resurfacing of the hard standing concrete in front of both the Paddock and Club Stands.
The racecourse also invested this winter in a brand new 40 msq big screen through MediaPoint. The screen has replaced their permanent big screen which was the first to be installed at a UK Racecourse back in 2002.
James Hutchinson, Managing Director & Clerk of the Course commented:
Back to back wins of this award is a real credit to the work put in by all the team at Ripon and gives us a target to continue aspiring to.
Members of the official club for racing fans in Britain voted for Cheltenham as their number one racecourse for 2015. The vote across the 5,000-strong membership of the Racegoers Club saw the Prestbury Park track take the honour for the 12th year in a row despite ongoing redevelopment throughout 2015.
York Racecourse has also bee voted as most popular flat track in Britain.
York collected the award for a record 26th year from the longest established supporters club for the sport.
William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said:
We are thrilled and honoured to be voted for by the racing public.
I would like to thank and pay tribute to the whole team at York who, like others in racing, work so hard to deliver successful and enjoyable racedays.
