Sportingwales 8

words Hamish Stuart pictures Steve Pope
As Wales becomes the centre for “If people do not know when the racing is on ourselves. That is something that racing in
major sporting occasions such as then they cannot be expected to go, so part of general is doing to see how we can appeal to a
the Ashes, Ryder Cup and all the my job is to raise the proﬁ le of the place.” wider audience.
major events at the Millennium
Stadium, Chepstow Racecourse are Certainly the biggest past of that proﬁ le is “We are looking very hard at every aspect of the
keen to remind everyone that the the Welsh National, many of the best horses customer experience to make sure everything is
Welsh National is part of that A-list. around and an outstanding atmosphere. of top quality.”
It is the day when all eyes in the massive “The Welsh National is clearly the peak. It will Of course the Welsh horseracing scene has
horse-racing world, as well as the BBC’s be a 10,000 sell out, live on BBC and we have been the focus of attention with the ﬁ rst new
cameras, are turned towards Wales in general long term deals in place with our broadcast racecourse starting in the UK for more than 80
and Chepstow in particular. partners and also our sponsors Coral,” said years when Ffos Las opened their doors.
Holland.
The top racecourse in Wales is looking to get “Ffos Las has opened up a new market in West
bigger, the response to new competition with “That is our Ashes or Ryder Cup event, it is Wales, but we are in a different market place
Ffos Las opening west of Llanelli is to try and the highest proﬁ le race meeting in the country with the history and quality of racing that we
become more important on the UK stage on that day. have,” said Holland.
It comes at a time when Chepstow, owned by “We need three more peaks like that through “Chepstow is Wales’s premier racecourse
Northern Racing, is going from strength to the calendar year and that is something and it will get even better. Northern Racing
strength despite the economic climate with Northern Racing are looking at in terms of are investing heavily in two courses this year,
new chief executive Richard Holland looking delivering a series across the group.” Fontwell and Chepstow.
to make a mark.
With a commercial and marketing background “It will continue to be Wales’s Number One, but
“The Northern Racing business is on budget, including seven years at The Celtic Manor, with some improvements along the way.
which is quite a phenomenal achievement Holland is enjoying the challenge of marketing a
given the economic climate,” said Holland. new sport and modernising the image of one of “We want to be somewhere families can come in
Wales’s most traditional venues. the summer and so people will put our race days
“Now we are focussing on the individual into their calendar. It needs to be affordable and
racecourse businesses with a view to making “It was a great opportunity to be in charge of offer cracking entertainment.
them more proﬁ table. two businesses which will deliver over a million
pounds in proﬁ t,” said Holland, who is also in “From next year we will be racing on all ﬁ ve
“At Chepstow people come to see come charge of Hereford racecourse. Monday Bank Holidays so people know it will be
quality National Hunt racing over the winter going on and can plan to come – perhaps with a
with the fantastic pinnacle of the Welsh “Racing was not my passion, but I am season pass.
National. passionate about the commercial side of the
business and ensuring that is how we look at “We are going to be putting a heavy emphasis
“Then in the summer there are special nights Chepstow. on family entertainment, hopefully for the South
and it is a different audience, but the racing West, Gloucester and Bristol as well as South
can be a big enough pull if we can put on “It has been very successful, but maybe has not Wales.
enough entertainment and activities around it evolved along with the market.
to attract the audience. “We know that if the kids are happy then the
“I am entering into a re-branding exercise Mums and Dads are happy, but here the Mums
looking at everything and how we position and Dads can have a great time as well.”
GALLOPING
Richard Holland
FORWARD
sportingwales
issue8twothousand&nine
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16 | Page 17 | Page 18 | Page 19 | Page 20 | Page 21 | Page 22 | Page 23 | Page 24 | Page 25 | Page 26 | Page 27 | Page 28 | Page 29 | Page 30 | Page 31 | Page 32 | Page 33 | Page 34 | Page 35 | Page 36 | Page 37 | Page 38 | Page 39 | Page 40 | Page 41 | Page 42 | Page 43 | Page 44 | Page 45 | Page 46 | Page 47 | Page 48 | Page 49 | Page 50 | Page 51 | Page 52