New figures published by Jockey Club Racecourses show 32,368 people attended race days at Warwick in 2015 – up 4,167 on the previous year when it set the aim of becoming the best small jumps course in the country.
Its final meeting of 2015, the New Year’s Eve Raceday, attracted a crowd of close to 4,500 – a significant increase on previous years.
Jockey Club Racecourses also runs the likes of the Cheltenham Festival, the Crabbie’s Grand National and The Investec Derby within its nationwide portfolio of 15 racecourses and its total attendances passed 1.9 million for the first time ever.
It welcomed a record 1,946,644 people to 336 horseracing fixtures it staged in 2015.
This represents a year-on-year total attendance increase of 8.5% – more than 150,000 people – despite staging 7.2% (26) fewer fixtures compared to 2014 when 1,794,797 spectators attended 362 events. Average crowds per fixture grew even more significantly, up 16.9% on prior year (2015: 5,794, 2014: 4,958).
The previous record attendance at Jockey Club Racecourses was recorded in 2011 when 1,897,453 racegoers attended 365 fixtures – 29 fixtures more than in the year just completed.
Warwick Racecourse is scheduled to stage 17 racing fixtures in 2016, the same number as in 2015.
Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: “It’s extremely positive Warwick attracted more people through the gates in 2015 and we were delighted to finish the year on a high with nearly 4,500 joining us on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re looking forward to building on this success and are working on several new promotional initiatives as part of our plan to make Warwick the best small jumps track in the country and will be investing in further improvements over the course of the year.
“There are also plans to improve the drainage this year. In addition, we shall develop the concept of portable fences and improvements to the crossings, as well as other minor facility projects.
“I’m confident this investment and the launch of new initiatives, such as all advance tickets for the Main Enclosure being just £10, will only help to grow the number of people enjoying an excellent day out with us.”
As The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter to act for the long-term good of British Racing, all profits generated by its racecourse arm are reinvested back into the nation’s second-biggest spectator sport.
It has contributed more than £400 million in the last decade alone, predominantly through prize money, to support the livelihoods of those who work in British Racing and provide a return to racehorse owners, and through investments in top quality facilities for customers and participants.
Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, added:
“More people than ever before went racing with The Jockey Club in 2015 as a result of efforts to promote our thrilling sport and the experience we offer nationwide, and then giving people an excellent day out when they come racing with us.
“We must credit the horses and horsemen at the heart of our sport at the same time as our hardworking teams whose efforts allow us to reinvest all profits from staging our racedays back into British Racing to support its long-term health.”
The scheduled fixture list for Warwick Racecourse for 2016 is as follows:
Saturday, January 16 – afternoon
Thursday, January 28 – afternoon
Saturday, February 13 – afternoon
Friday, February 26 – afternoon
Sunday, March 13 – afternoon
Wednesday, March 23 – afternoon
Monday, April 4 – afternoon
Thursday, April 21 – afternoon
Monday, May 2 – afternoon
Saturday, May 7 – evening
Wednesday, May 18 – afternoon
Tuesday, September 20 – afternoon
Thursday, September 29 – afternoon
Friday, November 4 – afternoon
Wednesday, November 16 – afternoon
Thursday, December 8 – afternoon
Saturday, December 31 – afternoon
Further information, including admission and booking details, is available at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk