Easter Saturday sees completion of racecourse redevelopment

This year’s Bank Holiday weekend will see the unveiling of the results of Newton Abbot Racecourse’s £350,000 winter redevelopment programme ahead of the first racing fixture of the new season at the South Devon course.

In the five months since the last race of 2015, the course has undergone a number of improvements aimed at enhancing the visitor experience for racegoers, owners, trainers and jockeys alike from the track to the parade ring, the dining facilities and the betting hall.

Keen to ensure that the sport continues to entice families and the younger generation to experience a day at the races, one of perhaps the most visible developments of the winter programme is the creation of a brand new dedicated children’s play area set in the centre of the course. With a drive to ensure that a day at the races offers something for everyone, regardless of age, the new permanent play area will now be open at every fixture throughout the season.

Boasting favourites such as a nest swing, traditional swings, a climbing fort with slide and sprung animals, including, of course, a horse, the play area is suitable for young racegoers aged 3 to 12 years. The new play facilities teamed with the ongoing free entry policy for children aged 16 and under, in addition to students, ensures that a day at the races remains a cost-effective option for a family day out in the West Country.

Away from the play area, several other areas of the course have been included in this year’s annual redevelopment programme. Within the betting hall, several new 50inch TV screens have been installed to ensure that racegoers can continue to enjoy the day’s sporting action whether indoors or out. The betting hall has also benefited from new flooring throughout.

Several areas of the course have also been included in this winter’s decoration programme including the Pedestrian and Owners and Trainers entrance, in addition to the private boxes in the Teign Suite and the stables.

Looking towards improvements for horses, jockeys and owners, a new rubberised flooring has been installed around the saddling area which completes previous years’ investment in a new rubberised surface from the Parade Ring down to the track. Saddling boxes have also received new padding, the saddling area has been extended and new hedging has been planted around the Parade Ring.

The track has also benefitted from another irrigation boom to enhance the course’s water programme, drainage works and the rebuilding of four fences.

Giving an overview on this year’s updates and improvements, Patrick
Masterson, Managing Director at Newton Abbot Racecourse, said: “Located in such a beautiful and popular part of the country means we can offer the racegoer at Newton Abbot a really special experience in a unique setting that few other places can rival, however it also means we are competing for our clients against an ever increasing number of other attractions. That is why, here at Newton Abbot, we continue to invest in our course to ensure we maintain our high level of offer and satisfaction to all our racegoers.

“We believe that by listening to our customers, taking their feedback on board and reinvesting in the site we can give them an unbeatable experience. We look forward to welcoming both new and existing customers to our season opener on Easter Saturday 26th March and hope that they will find this winter’s developments enhance their experience whether they are racegoers, owners, trainers or jockeys.”

Gates open for the new season at 12:05 on Easter Saturday 26th March, prior to the day’s first race at 14:05.

Tickets for the season opener at Newton Abbot Racecourse are on sale now at www.newtonabbotracing.com or by calling 01626 353235.