High Gosforth Park Is Racing Ahead

Did you know that Newcastle Racecourse is home to the world's first and only all-weather, totally floodlit, straight mile horse racing track. Use that at the next pub quiz.

It’s one of the reasons the popularity of Newcastle Racecourse with owners and trainers has increased dramatically since the all-weather track was unveiled three years ago. It was the first all-weather track to open in the North of England. Naturally, that means there are more races and therefore more chances for folk to go along to High Gosforth Park and enjoy a cracking day or evening out.

The all-weather track sits alongside the traditional turf track. The jumps course remain unchanged, meaning that Newcastle can now host racing in just about any sort of conditions the British weather wants to throw at it. Put it this way, in January of this year, there were eleven meetings… three over the traditional jumps course and eight on the new allweather track. The majority of the all-weather meetings take place in the evening and, thanks to the magnificent floodlighting, is a terrific spectacle.

Leading from the front are Executive Director David Williamson and General Manager Paul Elliott. Paul is one of those invaluable people to have at any business for the simple reason that he’s done a wide variety of jobs at the same place.

“While I was in 6th form at school and then when I was a student at Northumbria University, I used to work part time at Newcastle Racecourse in the events section,” said Paul. “I can tell the current staff how to set out tables, because I’ve done it. I can tell them how to serve drinks and then tidy up after something like a wedding or craft fair, because I’ve done it. However, what all of that experience gave me was an insight into what went on face-to-face with the general public, but also how these happen behind the scenes.”

Paul left university and rather going straight into a career, took a year out to do some travelling. He went to Australia.

“I’m a keen cricketer, I still play for Morpeth as a spin bowler, and played a load of games in Perth. It was great fun but, all good things come to an end….bit like my spending money… so it was time to return home. I spotted a job at Newcastle Racecourse as Events Supervisor. I applied and was successful.”

Paul has now been at High Gosforth Park for thirteen years and has graduated through the parent company’s racing development programme. He became Operations Supervisor, then Operations Manager and finally to his current role as General Manager. He’s busy, not only on race days, but also with numerous events like weddings, craft fairs, conferences, business seminars and even student events. Christmas parties are an extremely hectic time for everyone at the course bearing in mind that there are also six race days to organise in December.

The increased success of Newcastle Racecourse in recent years, plus backing from the course’s owners, the Arena Racing Company (which also owns courses at the likes of Doncaster, Windsor, Bath, Chepstow, Brighton and locally at Sedgefield) means that developments are in the pipeline.

“Now that we have our all-weather track, it’s time to invest in the facilities which the general public use when they come to Newcastle Racecourse,” added Paul. “All of the buildings, bars, restaurants, conference facilities and public areas will be updated over the next year or so. It will mean the raceday experience will be even better and allow us to expand our conference and events business.”

But of course, Newcastle Racecourse will still really be about one thing. Horse racing.

The Northumberland Plate meeting is coming up on the rails…27th – 29th of June. It’s not only the highlight of the racing calendar in the North East, it’s one of the biggest and most important racing events on the UK racing calendar. This year’s Plate Day promises to be bigger than ever thanks to Madness appearing later in the evening.

When it comes to a massive splash of glamour, nothing beats Ladies Day (Saturday 27th July). Almost 20,000 ‘beautiful people’ will be there to enjoy what is not only a wonderful social occasion but also a cracking day of racing.

And then, on Saturday 30th November, some of the best horses across the UK and Ireland will be at Newcastle for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. The last two years has seen the race won by Buveur d’Air, who has twice won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tickets and hospitality packages are available for all of these meetings plus of course any of the other racedays and evenings. Paul and one of his team will soon get you racing.