MEDIA RELEASE

9 MARCH 2016

UTTOXETER RACECOURSES BIG DAY: 16,000 RACEGOERS, 85 RACEHORSES,

5,256 GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNEAND 75,000 CHIPS!
Betfred Midlands Grand National, Uttoxeter Racecourse Saturday, 19 March
All the facts (and figures) add-up to another memorable day of racing at Uttoxeter
Racecourse on Saturday 19 March, when more than 16,000 people will once again converge
on the award-winning Staffordshire venue for a full card of 8 races, including the one-andonly Betfred Midlands Grand National.
While the racecourse itself measures 1 mile 2 furlongs, the Midlands Grand National is an
endurance race over 4 miles and 1 furlongs.
Since its creation in 1969 this prestigious fixture has been a firm favourite on the racing
calendar and with a 30,000 increase in prize money for the feature race in 2016, it attracted
61 entries which will be down to the field of 20, plus 2 reserves, for the big day itself.
While Irish trainers have won five out of the last 16 races, Somerset Trainer David Pipe, who
has won the Midlands Grand National four times in his short time as a trainer is looking for
his fifth winner. No horse has ever won the race twice.
Up in the stands, around 300 racegoers attending the 2016 Betfred Midlands Grand National
will be the first diners to experience the all-new 600,000 1907 restaurant.
Around the entire course, some 1,118 three or four-course meals will be enjoyed and, at
exactly the same time, around 330 catering staff and casuals will so busy theyll barely
notice that a race meeting is even taking place.
An estimated 5,256 glasses of champagne will be quaffed from 876 bottles; 12,564 glasses
of wine will be poured from 2,094 bottles; and 50,000 pints of beer will be pulled.

Sticking to food and drink, 800 portions of fish from the Nottingham Seafood Company (and
75,000 chips!) will be served from the ever popular Fish and Chips stand; 145kg of pork
joints from Packington Moor Outdoor Reared Farm in Tamworth will be served-up at The
Spinning Pig hog roast - along with 15kg of stuffingon 1000 baguettes from Spencers
Bakery in Derbyshire. Elsewhere, some 230 Wrights Pies will be served-up to racegoers
during the course of the day.
More than 85 race horses will be comfortably accommodated in Uttoxeters 102 stables;
while around 50 jockeys will jostle for position both in the weighing room and out on the
course itself.
Its one of the most colourful and spectacular days out on the annual Midlands calendar and
the second largest steeplechase in the UK, after the Aintree Grand National.
Away from the course itself, a full programme of entertainment and activities will include Mr
Wilsons Second Liners (http://mrwilsons.org.uk) - playing their very own brand of music
which they describe as New Orleans meets 90s club classics; a rave funeral without a
body. Well-known radio and TV pundit Derek Tommo Thompson has also agreed to be
there, to pass-on his knowledge to race-goers in the parade ring during a not-to-be-missed
guide to all of the runners and riders in this years star race.
Entrance to this years Betfred Midlands Grand National range from 15 - 42. Due high
demand for Premier tickets it is advised to book in advance, however tickets can also be
purchased on the day at the entrance. For further information and to book tickets online,
visit http://www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk/midlands-grand-national, or call 01889 562561.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Hayley Locker
Marketing Manager
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Telephone: 01889 562561
Email: hlocker@uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk
Website: www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk.
Twitter: @UttoxeterRaces
Facebook: Uttoxeter Racecourse

NOTES TO EDITORS:
About ARC:
Arena Racing Company (ARC) is the largest racecourse operator in the UK. In 2016 ARC
racecourses will host over 500 fixtures with total prize money of over 28 million. Each year
1.2 million people attend racing at one of ARCs racecourses.
ARC is made up of the following sixteen racecourses: Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster,
Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal
Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Worcester.
ARC runs three of the five all-weather racecourses in the UK offering three different types of
surface for horses to run on: Polytrack at Lingfield Park, fibresand at Southwell Racecourse
and the only tapeta racing surface in Europe at Wolverhampton Racecourse. ARC is
currently investing over 11 million in the facilities at Newcastle Racecourse which will see
racing commence on a second tapeta racing surface in Great Britain from May 2016.
In 2013 ARC pioneered the All-Weather Championships which see horses compete
throughout the winter for the chance of qualifying for a 1.1 million Finals Day on Good
Friday at Lingfield Park. This initiative is helping raise the profile and prestige of all-weather
racing in Great Britain.
ARC hosts racing at all levels of the sport from Class 7 through to Group 1s. Doncaster
Racecourse is home to the worlds oldest Classic, the St Leger, run each year in September
as part of the four-day St Leger Festival. Feature jumps races include the Grade 1 Fighting
Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle Racecourse, the Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse and
Midlands National at Uttoxeter Racecourse.
As well as racing, ARC also operates a hotel at Wolverhampton Racecourse, a hotel, spa
resort and golf course at Lingfield Park and The Border Minstrel public house at Newcastle
Racecourse in the grounds of Gosforth Park.
ARC is the majority shareholder in the horseracing TV channel At The Races which is
broadcast on the Sky platform to c.14 million homes, and a JV partner with Racing UK in
GBI Racing which sells UK and Irish Racing to betting shop operators around the world.

ARC plays a pivotal role in British Racing. It is a shareholder in British Champions Series
and Racecourse Data Company; a signatory to a British Horseracing Authoritys and
Horsemens Group Prize Money Agreement; and on the boards of the Racecourse
Association (RCA), Racing Enterprises Limited (REL) and Great British Racing (GBR).
ARC employs over 500 permanent staff and engages with 3,500 casual staff for racing and
events across its racecourses.
www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk.

Further information about ARC can be found at