SPONSORED CONTENT

With the new flat season getting underway, PETER BARRON explores the business opportunities offered by a day at the races

HAVE you ever thought of a day at the races as a way of promoting your business, celebrating a company milestone, entertaining clients, or rewarding your hard-working staff?

With an attractive range of corporate options, Redcar Racecourse – just voted the Best Small Racecourse in Scotland and the North of England by The Racegoers Club ­– is a cracking bet if you decide to give it a try.

The prestigious Racegoers Club award is an industry endorsement of Redcar’s appeal as a friendly, well-managed, seaside course, with 18 days of action-packed horse racing and a well-deserved reputation for corporate hospitality as well as family fun.

Members of the Racegoers Club – established as British horse racing’s official supporters club in 1968 – vote for their favourite racecourse every year and Redcar emerged as one of their regional winners for the 2018 season.

Redcar’s general manager, Amy Fair, said: “We are delighted to win this award, especially because it comes from the racing public – the very people we are there to serve.

“It is a real feather in Redcar’s cap and testament to the enormous efforts put in behind the scenes by a dedicated and skilled team. Everyone does their best to make the race-day experience at Redcar the best it can be and it’s wonderful for that to be recognised in this way.”

The forthcoming season promises to be even better, with the course undergoing a number of further improvements for 2019, including new wheelchair access to buildings at the winner’s enclosure, and refurbished outdoor toilets.

A permanent outdoor bar has been added to the paddock-side canopy that was unveiled last year, and a new first-aid office has been built on the Course side of the track. Racecourse buildings have also been freshly painted.

It speaks volumes that the highly-respected Marske-based company H. Jarvis Limited, which has been making windows and doors since 1878, comes back to Redcar year after year for corporate hospitality.

Managing director Dave Glendinning said: “H. Jarvis Limited use the facilities at Redcar Racecourse every year at the Ladies’ Day meeting in June and have done so for more than 10 years now. Why do we do so? Because the staff and facilities at the racecourse are first class! Every year they meet or exceed our expectations and I honestly believe this is because they completely understand our business and what we are trying to achieve in promoting our business by using the Redcar Racecourse venue and hospitality services.”

Last season, another high-profile North-East company, The Driver Group, took advantage of what Redcar Racecourse has to offer for the first time and was also impressed. The multi-disciplinary construction and engineering consultancy, which employs 50 people on Teesside, was celebrating the 40th anniversary of its parent company and wanted to mark the milestone in a special way.

The company chose the Oktoberfest Beer Festival Raceday in the autumn for its celebration. This is one of Redcar’s premier meetings, featuring its richest race, the £175,000 Two-Year-Old Trophy, and combines top-class racing with a fun atmosphere, with plenty of lederhosen and frauleins on display.

Michael Noteyoung, managing director of Driver Group, said: “Our 40th anniversary last year was a very important milestone for the company and, as part of our celebrations, we had a really special day at Redcar Races. We sponsored a race and enjoyed excellent corporate hospitality for staff and guests. We were well looked after by friendly staff and the day helped make the anniversary really memorable.”

Amy Fair, Redcar’s general manager, said: “We work really hard to engage with businesses across the Tees Valley and the wider North-East and we are delighted that high-profile companies have a positive experience when they choose us for their corporate hospitality needs.

“Having a day at the races, with a race sponsored in your company’s name, and the opportunity to entertain staff and guests in comfortable surroundings, with great service and an unrivalled view of the action, is something exciting and different if you’ve never tried it before.”

Whatever your reason for wanting to book a day at Redcar, race sponsorship provides the ideal finishing touch and unique exposure for your business.

A TYPICAL SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Personalised race title

• Full colour advert/notice in the official racecard

• Publicity in the national and regional media

• On-course publicity on the day via PA announcements, CCTV and banner sites

• Television coverage via Racing TV

• On-Course promotional opportunities on the day

• Opportunity to judge the Best Turned Out horse in the parade ring prior to your race.

• Present a trophy to the winning owner in the Winner’s Enclosure

• Celebrate the success with the winning owners

• Receive a photograph of the presentation.

Redcar’s business sponsorship packages start from just £1,000 + VAT, while Friends & Family sponsorship packages are available from £500 + VAT.

Business also have the following range of corporate entertainment packages to choose from:

PLATINUM PACKAGE - £89.50 plus VAT per person

  • Trackside viewing box
  • Coffee and biscuits on arrival
  • Four-course served menu
  • VIP admission badge
  • Raceday programme
  • Balloon decorations
  • Betting facility

GOLD PACKAGE - £79.50 plus VAT per person

  • Trackside viewing box
  • Coffee and biscuits on arrival
  • Three course served menu
  • VIP admission badge
  • Raceday programme
  • Balloon decorations
  • Betting facility

SILVER PACKAGE - £69.50 plus VAT per person

  • Trackside viewing box
  • • Fork or finger buffet
  • • VIP admission badge
  • Raceday programme
  • Balloon decorations
  • Betting facility

BRONZE PACKAGE - £59.50 plus VAT per person

  • Trackside viewing box
  • Informal finger or fork buffet menu
  • VIP admission badge
  • Raceday programme
  • Betting facility

2019 FIXTURES

  • Monday 8th April
  • Monday 22nd April (Bank Holiday) Easter Monday
  • Thursday 2nd May Racing TV Club Day
  • Monday 20th May
  • Monday 27th May (Bank Holiday) Zetland Gold Cup Sports Day
  • Tuesday 28th May
  • Friday 21st June
  • Saturday 22nd June Ladies’ Day
  • Sunday 21st July 1940s Revival Day, supporting Help for Heroes
  • Wednesday 31st July
  • Saturday 10th August Caribbean Carnival Day
  • Saturday 24th August Gin & Gents’ Evening
  • Tuesday 17th September
  • Wednesday 25th September
  • Saturday 5th October Oktoberfest featuring the Two Year Old Trophy
  • Friday 18th October
  • Monday 28th October
  • Tuesday 5th November

So, if you fancy giving horse-racing a try, visit www.redcarracing.co.uk or call on (01642) 484068 and Redcar’s friendly staff will do their best to meet your company’s needs.

Who knows? You might even back a few winners!