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GREAT NEWS! Big wins for Doncaster Racecourse at RCA Showcase Awards

A Double Triumph at the RCA Showcase Awards

Doncaster Racecourse was celebrating on Thursday after being crowned Showcase Champion at the RCA Showcase Awards Dinner, held at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Whilst the Yorkshire course also walked away with the Award for best Free Racing Day, for their Royal Wedding Race Day, they won the overall prize thanks to their overall innovation, excellence and marketing strategies.

2011 RCA Awards Mark Spincer

The awards celebrate the overall excellence and innovation that has being shown by Racecourses across the country and were hosted by the Racecourse Association in conjunction with Racing for Change.

Overall, there were 86 initiatives entered for consideration from 37 racecourses, as well as group submissions from Jockey Club Racecourses and Northern Racing and Events. They were judged by an independent panel consisting of Louise Agran (Racing Post), Janet Uttley (Visit England), Abigail Sawyer (BBC), David Fraser (Harrison:Fraser) and was chaired by Chris McFadden of Racing Enterprises Ltd.

On presenting the award to Mark Spincer, Managing Director of Doncaster Racecourse, joint host for the evening, David Fraser commented:

"The Sales through Service submission made by Doncaster demonstrated eloquent use of social media and was very well thought out; similarly, the Royal Wedding Race day used social media very effectively. Overall, however, the judges thought that Doncaster's efforts over the last year to improve the customer experience was particularly impressive in many fields, which is why we made the racecourse Showcase Champion 2011"

Mark Spincer thanked the judging panel and added:

"I am absolutely delighted to receive the awards and recognition on behalf of the team at Doncaster, we are all very proud of what we have achieved and to receive this type of accolade from within the horse racing industry".

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Hipgrave (Press Ahead PR) for Doncaster Racecourse on: 0191 516 6235 or

Sam Cone at the RCA on 01344626067 or sam.cone@racecourseassociation.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

  • The RCA Showcase Awards were announced at the Showcase Awards Dinner at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 17 November 2011.
  • 86 entries from 37 racecourses along with group entries from Jockey Club Racecourses and Northern Racing were considered for the RCA Showcase Awards.
  • The judging process was conducted by an independent panel consisting of David Fraser(Harrison:Fraser), Louise Agran (Racing Post), Abigail Sawyer (BBC) and Janet Uttley (Visit England), with the panel chaired by Chris McFadden (Racing Enterprises Ltd).
  • Showcase Award Winners: Doncaster Racecourse (Showcase Champion, Free Racing Days), Carlisle Racecourse (Events), Goodwood Racecourse (Food & Beverage), York Racecourse (Marketing), Musselburgh Racecourse (Operational Excellence), Hamilton Park Racecourse (Raceday Experience), Newcastle Racing and Events (Judges Award), Plumpton Racecourse (Judges Award) and Ascot Racecourse (Best New Initiative)
  • Full details of all the shortlisted and winning initiatives as well as pictures from the awards ceremony are available at http://www.britishracecourses.org/.


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