Towcester Racecourse: Difference between revisions
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{{Use British English|date=February 2023}} |
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{{Infobox Racecourse |
{{Infobox Racecourse |
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| Name = Towcester |
| Name = Towcester |
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| Website = http://www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk |
| Website = http://www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk |
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| Location = [[Watling Street]], [[Towcester]], [[Northamptonshire]] |
| Location = [[Watling Street]], [[Towcester]], [[Northamptonshire]] |
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| Owner = |
| Owner = TRC Events & Leisure Ltd. |
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| Opened = |
| Opened = 1973 |
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| CourseType = [[National Hunt]] |
| CourseType = [[National Hunt]] |
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| Channel = [[Sky Sports Racing]] |
| Channel = [[Sky Sports Racing]] |
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'''Towcester Racecourse''' |
'''Towcester Racecourse''' is a greyhound racing track and former [[horse racing]] venue at [[Towcester]] (pronounced "''Toh-ster''") in [[Northamptonshire]], [[England]]. It has staged the [[English Greyhound Derby]] in 2018, 2021 and has won the contract for the next 5 years from 2022. |
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In October 2019 it was announced that the course would not reopen following over 12 months in administration.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/49899414|title=Towcester Racecourse closed and remaining fixtures sold|date=1 October 2019|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 October 2019}}</ref> |
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Horse racing at Towcester goes back to the 18th century. Towcester is one of many places listed in James Christie Whyte's ''History of the British Turf'' where annual horseracing had ceased to occur after 1798.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Whyte |first=James Christie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fcDAAAAQAAJ |title=History of the British turf |date=1840 |publisher=Colburn |volume=I |page=189 |language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The first meeting over the modern course took place in 1928. The Towcester Racecourse Company was formed under the direction of [[Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh|Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, later 1st Lord Hesketh]], and it was there on his estate of [[Easton Neston house|Easton Neston]], that the course was sited, and the first [[grandstand]] built. |
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In late October 2019 Kevin Boothby signed a 10 year lease deal for Towcester Racecourse. <ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/other-sport/plan-greyhound-racing-return-towcester-racecourse-next-year-1306138|title=Plan for greyhound racing to return to Towcester Racecourse next year|date=25 October 2019|work=Northampton Chronicle & Echo|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref> Towcester Racecourse is hosting the English Greyhound Derby in July 2021. <ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sportinglife.com/greyhounds/news/towcester-gets-greyhound-derby-gig/187997|title=Greyhound racing news: Latest updates including 'new' Derby home|date=2 January 2021|work=Sporting Life|accessdate=2 January 2021}}</ref> |
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Towcester was |
Towcester was popular among the racing fraternity, mostly because of the sharp bends in the course, and the final gallop to the finishing post was uphill, which tested the horses and results in some unexpected finishes. |
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In 2004 the Easton Neston estate, including the race course was put up for sale. Hesketh later decided to retain ownership of the course and sold only a portion of the estate to a Russian-born businessman. |
In 2004, the Easton Neston estate, including the race course, was put up for sale. The [[Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh|third Lord Hesketh]] later decided to retain ownership of the course and sold only a portion of the estate to a Russian-born businessman. |
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Entry was free from 2002 until [[2006 in sport|2006]], during which time the course saw attendance grow significantly. In mid-2006, it was announced that from |
Entry was free from 2002 until [[2006 in sport|2006]], during which time the course saw attendance grow significantly. In mid-2006, it was announced that from the 26th of December 2006, Towcester would be charging for entry to their two most popular annual meetings; [[Boxing Day]] and [[Easter Sunday]]. Selected other meetings were free. |
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In 2008, Lord Hesketh decided to sell the course which was offered as a going concern. |
In 2008, Lord Hesketh decided to sell the course, which was offered as a going concern. |
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On 7 November 2013, jockey [[Tony McCoy]] got his 4,000th career win at Towcester, riding Mountain Tunes to win the Weatherbys Novices' Hurdle.<ref>{{cite web| |
On 7 November 2013, jockey [[Tony McCoy]] got his 4,000th career win at Towcester, riding Mountain Tunes to win the Weatherbys Novices' Hurdle.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 November 2013|title=Tony McCoy celebrates 4,000th winner at Towcester on Mountain Tunes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/07/tony-mccoy-4000-towcester-mountain-tunes1|work=Guardian UK|access-date=8 November 2013}}</ref> |
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== Greyhound |
== Greyhound racing == |
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{{Main|Towcester Greyhound Stadium}} |
{{Main|Towcester Greyhound Stadium}} |
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A |
A [[greyhound racing]] track has been built inside the racecourse, which opened in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=New racecourse dog track set to open in time for Christmas|url=http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/news/more-news/new-racecourse-dog-track-set-to-open-in-time-for-christmas-1-6349524|website=buckinghamtoday.co.uk|access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref> |
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== 2018 administration == |
== 2018 administration == |
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In August 2018 the future of Towcester racecourse was put in doubt. A statement released by the racecourse on 16 August read: |
In August 2018 the future of Towcester racecourse was put in doubt. A statement released by the racecourse on 16 August read: |
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{{blockquote|Towcester Racecourse Company Limited, proprietors of Towcester Racecourse, are currently experiencing trading difficulties and are in discussions with key stakeholders and professional advisers on the way forward. However, the directors have concluded that they have no alternative in the short term but to seek court protection and are now taking steps to place the company into [[administration (law)|administration]]. As a result, it is with regret that the greyhound meetings on this Friday, 17 August, and over the weekend at Towcester Racecourse have been cancelled. |
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| ⚫ | On 23 August [[KPMG]] were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barber|first1=Bill|date=23 August 2018|title=BHA to decide fate of Towcester fixtures as 134 staff are made redundant|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/mass-redundancies-at-towcester-after-kpmg-appointed-as-administrators/343408|work=[[Racing Post]]}}</ref> On 13 November, the administrators announced that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP.<ref name="RP">{{cite web|title=Towcester racecourse assets sold to company linked to Hesketh family |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/towcester-fate-to-be-known-in-new-year-after-racing-assets-sold-to-new-company/353599 |work=[[Racing Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SALE OF TOWCESTER – PRESS RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATORS |date=13 November 2018 |url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/sale-of-towcester/|publisher=Greyhound Star}}</ref> This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts.<ref name="RP" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Fermor Land LLP |url=https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/OC424527-fermor-land-llp?page=people-contacts |publisher=Endole}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fermor Land LLP |url=https://app.datagardener.com/company/oc424527/Fermor-Land-Llp?page=people-contacts |publisher=DataGadener}}</ref> |
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In late October 2019 Kevin Boothby signed a 10-year lease deal for Towcester Racecourse. |
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| ⚫ | On 23 August [[KPMG]] were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.<ref>{{cite web |
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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.datagardener.com/company/oc424527/Fermor-Land-Llp?page=people-contacts|title=Fermor Land LLP|publisher=DataGadener}}</ref> |
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== New Lease Deal == |
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In October 2019 the racecourse was successfully leased, with Greyhound Racing returning each week and the prospect of Horse Racing returning in the very near future. Post-Covid and the most recent Government announcements, Towcester will once again open its doors to the public from May 18th 2021. Greyhound Racing continues behind closed doors until this time. <ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/other-sport/plan-greyhound-racing-return-towcester-racecourse-next-year-1306138|title=Plan for greyhound racing to return to Towcester Racecourse next year|date=25 October 2019|work=Northampton Chronicle & Echo|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref> |
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== English Greyhound Derby == |
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The English Greyhound Derby returned to Towcester Racecourse in 2021 after being held at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium during 2019 & 2020. The competition took place over June & July with the final being held on 10 July 2021. <ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.gbgb.org.uk/gbgb-approves-revised-dates-for-2021-english-greyhound-derby/|title=GBGB Approves Revised Dates for 2021 English Greyhound Derby|date=11 January 2021|work=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |accessdate=11 January 2021}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:1928 establishments in England]] |
[[Category:1928 establishments in England]] |
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[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1928]] |
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1928]] |
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{{Northamptonshire-struct-stub}} |
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{{England-horseracing-venue-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 10:44, 28 April 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
 Towcester Racecourse Logo | |
| Location | Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire |
|---|---|
| Owned by | TRC Events & Leisure Ltd. |
| Date opened | 1973 |
| Screened on | Sky Sports Racing |
| Course type | National Hunt |
| Official website | |
Towcester Racecourse is a greyhound racing track and former horse racing venue at Towcester (pronounced "Toh-ster") in Northamptonshire, England. It has staged the English Greyhound Derby in 2018, 2021 and has won the contract for the next 5 years from 2022.
Horse racing
[edit]Horse racing at Towcester goes back to the 18th century. Towcester is one of many places listed in James Christie Whyte's History of the British Turf where annual horseracing had ceased to occur after 1798.[1]
The first meeting over the modern course took place in 1928. The Towcester Racecourse Company was formed under the direction of Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, later 1st Lord Hesketh, and it was there on his estate of Easton Neston, that the course was sited, and the first grandstand built.
Towcester was popular among the racing fraternity, mostly because of the sharp bends in the course, and the final gallop to the finishing post was uphill, which tested the horses and results in some unexpected finishes.
In 2004, the Easton Neston estate, including the race course, was put up for sale. The third Lord Hesketh later decided to retain ownership of the course and sold only a portion of the estate to a Russian-born businessman.
Entry was free from 2002 until 2006, during which time the course saw attendance grow significantly. In mid-2006, it was announced that from the 26th of December 2006, Towcester would be charging for entry to their two most popular annual meetings; Boxing Day and Easter Sunday. Selected other meetings were free.
In 2008, Lord Hesketh decided to sell the course, which was offered as a going concern.
On 7 November 2013, jockey Tony McCoy got his 4,000th career win at Towcester, riding Mountain Tunes to win the Weatherbys Novices' Hurdle.[2]
Greyhound racing
[edit]A greyhound racing track has been built inside the racecourse, which opened in December 2014.[3]
2018 administration
[edit]In August 2018 the future of Towcester racecourse was put in doubt. A statement released by the racecourse on 16 August read:
Towcester Racecourse Company Limited, proprietors of Towcester Racecourse, are currently experiencing trading difficulties and are in discussions with key stakeholders and professional advisers on the way forward. However, the directors have concluded that they have no alternative in the short term but to seek court protection and are now taking steps to place the company into administration. As a result, it is with regret that the greyhound meetings on this Friday, 17 August, and over the weekend at Towcester Racecourse have been cancelled.
Whilst inevitably there will be considerable interest from customers, supporters and suppliers, the directors ask that they be given time to focus on exploring other options for the business and they anticipate there will be a further update in the next few days.
The directors remain hopeful that despite the current situation, given the significant history of horseracing and more recently greyhound racing at Towcester, there will be significant interest from potential acquirers".
On 23 August KPMG were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.[4] On 13 November, the administrators announced that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP.[5][6] This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts.[5][7][8]
In late October 2019 Kevin Boothby signed a 10-year lease deal for Towcester Racecourse.
References
[edit]- ^ Whyte, James Christie (1840). History of the British turf. Vol. I. Colburn. p. 189.
- ^ "Tony McCoy celebrates 4,000th winner at Towcester on Mountain Tunes". Guardian UK. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ "New racecourse dog track set to open in time for Christmas". buckinghamtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ Barber, Bill (23 August 2018). "BHA to decide fate of Towcester fixtures as 134 staff are made redundant". Racing Post.
- ^ a b "Towcester racecourse assets sold to company linked to Hesketh family". Racing Post.
- ^ "SALE OF TOWCESTER – PRESS RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATORS". Greyhound Star. 13 November 2018.
- ^ "Fermor Land LLP". Endole.
- ^ "Fermor Land LLP". DataGadener.