The news that a major race day event is moving to Newcastle has been greeted as a huge boost for the city.
It has been announced that the day of the All-Season Championships Finals will be held in Gosforth Park next Easter, not only putting TV in the spotlight, but also – says a city councilor – thousands of additional fans and added benefits.
The £ 1million Good Friday match, due to leave its former home in Lingfield Park in Surrey, has been popular with racing fans since its first edition in 2014.
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Then news came of a change for the ninth season of the All-Season Championships on Monday.
Responding to the announcement, Coun Ged Bell, member of the Newcastle City Council Development, Neighborhoods and Transport Cabinet, said: “This is great news for the city.
“Hosting the day of the All-Season Finals in Newcastle will attract thousands of additional racing fans, which is good for the local economy and for employment opportunities. “
He added: “Attracting television coverage will also increase the city’s profile in the horse racing world as its sporting credentials continue to develop.”
Newcastle Racecourse, which has a Fireworks evening and funfair race coming November 5, introduced all-weather racing in 2016, with a Tapeta track surface.
On moving day, Lingfield will host an All-Weather Vase instead.
Arena Racing Company, which owns both Newcastle and Lingfield, also announced a £ 4million cash prize hike for the 2022 season; compared to 2019, up to a total of £ 21.7million.
Mark Spincer, ARC Racing Division General Manager, said: “The day of the All-Season Championships Finals has, over the years, become a mainstay of the Easter program in Britain.
“As we have seen before the disruption of the past two years, people want to come running on Good Friday and we think Newcastle offers a real opportunity to develop the day even more.
“Equal to this is the popularity of the track and the racing surface, as has been proven since the installation of the Tapeta in 2016.
“The six All-Season Championship Finals alongside the Listed Coral Burradon Stakes will be a premier event worthy of the fantastic racing facilities that have been developed at Gosforth Park.”
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