Jockey Club horse racing posts record annual turnover
- Published
The Jockey Club, which operates 15 racecourses, including Aintree, Epsom Downs, Cheltenham and Newmarket, has posted record annual turnover for 2016.
Turnover was 拢191.5m, up 4.5% on a year earlier, with operating profits also up, to 拢22.6m from 拢21.9m.
Its contribution to prize money also hit a record, of 拢20.6m.
Boss Simon Bazalgette said UK racing can now "kick-on, matter to more people in this country, and ensure the sport has a healthy future at all levels".
He also welcomed "reforms to racing's funding", namely the introduction earlier this week of a reformed version of the bookmakers' levy system.
"This is a key pillar in the funding of British racing," said group chief executive Mr Bazalgette. "Both the UK Parliament and the European Union have approved the legislative changes."
The new British horserace betting levy
The new scheme will ensure a statutory financial return to the sport from all firms who accept bets on British racing from customers based in Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
That applies whether they operate on-course or off-course, and includes bets taken online and by firms based offshore
Operators must pay 10% of gross profits from bets made by British customers on British racing, above the first 拢500,000 they make
The changes will now include online gambling, which is estimated to account for more than half of all betting activity on the sport
The previous system had been in existence since 1961
Some offshore firms had been making voluntary contributions towards British racing, it was not compulsory
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial group in British horseracing. It is governed by Royal Charter, with all profits invested back into the sport.
It said its healthy commercial performance had been driven by a range of revenue streams - including continued growth from large racing festivals, its Jockey Club Live joint music venture, commercial partnerships, media fees and record numbers of racehorses using Jockey Club Estates' training facilities.
Attendances of 1.92 million people to its 333 race-days nationwide were the second largest ever at Jockey Club Racecourses, despite eight fixtures being cancelled due to bad weather.
The Jockey Club says it has grown its turnover by 90% since 2008, its first full year of operating solely as a commercial group.
It also says it aims to increase its contribution to racing prize money to 拢250m over the next ten years, which would be an increase of 52%, or 拢86m, over the previous similar period.
- Published25 April 2017
- Published14 January 2017
