The Racecourse Association (RCA), in partnership with Great British Racing (GBR), Racing Post, Racing Together and the Racing Foundation, is delighted to confirm the Finalists for the 2023 Showcase Awards following deliberation by its independent judging panel.

From July-September, all British racecourses were invited to submit entries to the Showcase Awards across eight core categories chosen to reflect the diverse operation of a racecourse. In addition, two public-voted awards offer our customers the opportunity to have their say and crown their racecourse of the year in raceday and owners’ experience. The RCA received 67 racecourse entries in total plus almost 5,000 votes from the racegoing public.

Musselburgh Racecourse lead the way with five Finalist nominations in Marketing, Food & Beverage, Raceday, Racing Post Readers’ Award and the RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year,  whilst York Racecourse demonstrated excellence and innovation of the highest quality with four Finalist nominations in Food & Beverage, Racing Together Community Award, Racing Foundation Green Award and RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year Award. The two will go head-to-head in the Food & Beverage and Owners’ Award categories. 

Newbury and Hamilton Park Racecourses were both immensely popular in the public vote and received a total of three Finalist nominations each, with Newbury adding Racing Together Community Award and Hamilton Park adding Racing Connection to their two public nominations.

Reigning Champions and hosts Aintree Racecourse capped another strong year with two Finalist nominations. Other former Champion Racecourses Ascot, Chester, Doncaster and Pontefract demonstrated their commitment to exceptional experiences remains as true as ever with two Finalist nominations each.

Bangor-on-Dee, Cheltenham, Perth, Ripon and Salisbury Racecourses were equally as impressive to the judges and public alike with two Finalist nominations apiece. Jockey Club Racecourses, on behalf of its 15 racecourses, also received multiple nominations.

In what is a fantastic year for Scottish racecourses, nominations for Ayr and Kelso Racecourses mean all five Scottish racecourses will be hoping for success at the Showcase Awards.

Arena Racing Company, Chelmsford City, Chepstow, Exeter/Wincanton, Ffos Las, Go Racing In Yorkshire, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newmarket and Royal Windsor complete the class of 2023.

Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA, commented: “Congratulations to our 2023 Showcase Finalists. This list represents the best of British racecourses over the past 12 months and demonstrates their commitment to providing a fantastic experience for participants and racegoers alike.

“Our independent judging panel commented on the high standard of entries this year which was evident when considering the scores awarded.

“I am thrilled to share details of these excellent initiatives. There is an abundance of best practice that should be replicated across the sport and the RCA will ensure this is front and centre of our raceday experience programme in 2024.

“My thanks to all racecourses in supporting the Showcase Awards, our independent judging panel for their time and expertise and to our partners who help elevate this event. Alongside hosts Aintree Racecourse, the RCA is eagerly anticipating the Showcase Seminar & Awards on Thursday 23^rd November where we will crown this year’s winners and overall Champion Racecourse.”

END

All entries are available to view on the Showcase Hall of Fame pages on the RCA website here.

The Awards will take place at the home of our reigning Champion Racecourse, Aintree, on the evening of Thursday 23^rd November following the Showcase Seminar throughout the afternoon.

Showcase Awards Finalists 2023

Food & Beverage

Bangor-on-Dee—Food Court

Cheltenham—Core On Course

Go Racing In Yorkshire—Hoofbeat Bitter

Musselburgh—Pinkie’s Deli—A Taste of Scotland’s Larder

York—Flying Frankie Bar

Racing Together Community Award

Aintree—Harnessing the Power of the People’s Race

Ayr—Raising Funds & Brand Awareness—Ayrshire Cancer Support

Haydock Park—Housebuilders’ Careers Initiative

Royal Windsor—26 Racedays, 26 Charity Partners

York—Remy Reaching the Places Others Racehorses Can’t

Diversity & Inclusion

Chelmsford City—Autism in Racing Raceday

Doncaster—Your Future, Your Choice

Newbury—Community Raceday

Perth—Pride Raceday

Pontefract—Through the Eyes of Others

Racing Foundation Green Award

Ascot—Racing to Zero

Jockey Club Racecourses—Showcasing Sustainability—Greener Racedays

Kelso—Rainwater/Drainwater Harvesting at Kelso Racecourse

Ripon—Green Work Makes the Dream Work

York—Knavesmire 300

Marketing

Ascot—Royal Ascot 2023

Chester—Family Day: Social Media Influencers

Goodwood—Three Friday Nights

Musselburgh—The Corgi Derby

Ripon—Back to Basics

Raceday

Exeter & Wincanton—West Country Weekend

Ffos Las—Proud to be Welsh Raceday

Musselburgh—Luca’s Ice Cream Family Day

Newmarket—The QIPCO Guineas Festival & The Coronation

Pontefract – Racing For Everyone Raceday

Non-Raceday

Cheltenham—The Fifth Day of the Festival

Chester—Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza

Doncaster—St Leger Festival Community Day

Salisbury—Walk & Talk

Racing Connection

Aintree—Red Rum 50

Arena Racing Company—Syndicate Lounges

Chepstow—Welsh Jump Jockeys’ Derby

Hamilton Park—Elevating the Experience for Owners & Trainers

Jockey Club Racecourses—Proactive Equine Welfare & Social Media Comms Campaign 

RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year

Bangor-on-Dee

Hamilton Park

Musselburgh

Newbury

York

Racing Post Readers’ Award

Hamilton Park

Musselburgh

Newbury

Perth

Salisbury