Racecourse Association announces finalists for 2025 Showcase Awards

The Racecourse Association (RCA), in partnership with Great British Racing (GBR), Future Ticketing, Racing Together and the Racing Foundation, is delighted to confirm the Finalists for the 2025 Showcase Awards following a detailed deliberation by its independent judging panel.

Wincanton Racecourse

The RCA Showcase Awards invite all RCA members to submit entries across eight core categories chosen to reflect excellence and innovation in all aspects of racecourse operations, with particular emphasis on raceday delivery and customer experience. In addition, categories are put to a popular vote to give the racegoing-public a voice in the industry awards: the Racing Post Readers’ Award and Owners’ Racecourse of the Year (in collaboration with the Racehorse Owners Association). Both awards attracted record engagement in 2025 with over 8,500 votes, an increase of over 30% on 2024.

Across the categories, Ayr and Newbury Racecourses lead the way with four Finalist nominations apiece. Both racecourses received glowing commendation from the public, with spots amongst the Finalists in the public-voted Racing Post Readers’ Award and Owners’ Racecourse of the Year Award. 

Two-time Showcase Champion Racecourse Ascot received three nominations, and will be looking for success in the Racing Foundation Green Award, Marketing and Exceptional Raceday Delivery (≥8,000) categories. 

Six other racecourses and organisations also received multiple nominations from the judges and public, namely Arena Racing Company, Chelmsford City, Chester, Musselburgh, Ripon and, reigning Showcase Champions and our 2025 hosts, York.

40 different racecourses and organisations submitted 86 submissions. This represents a 43% increase in submissions on 2024 and demonstrates the strength and depth of racecourse operations across the RCA membership.

In total, 34 racecourses and organisations have been selected as Finalists, setting up what looks to be one of the most competitive Showcase Awards to date. The Showcase Winners and Highly Commended racecourses will be announced at the fourteenth annual RCA Showcase Awards at York Racecourse on Thursday 13^th November.

This year, in addition to the core awards, the judges took the decision to award the Judges’ Choice Award. This is reserved for submissions resonate with the panel above all others. The Keagan Kirkby Raceday hosted by Wincanton Racecourse to honour the memory of West Country point-to-point rider Keagan Kirkby and raise vital funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare, was chosen as this year’s recipient. 

On receiving the award, Blaithin Murphy, General Manager of Wincanton Racecourse, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive the Judges’ Choice Award for our Keagan Kirkby Raceday. This day holds a special place in our hearts as a tribute to Keagan. The success of the event reflects the incredible person Keagan was, and the substantial funds raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare are thanks to the unwavering support of the racing community, along with Keagan’s family and friends, who helped us celebrate his legacy and put on a day we hope he would be proud of.”

Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA, said: “We are thrilled to announce the Finalists for this year’s Showcase Awards. The major increase in submissions from racecourses, combined with the record-levels of engagement in the popular vote, suggests a genuine competitiveness to demonstrate best practice from across the RCA membership and a commitment from racecourses to craft both excellent and innovative customer experiences.

“Our thanks goes to the racecourse teams who crafted the submissions and to our independent judging panel who reviewed and scored each one.

“We look forward to crowning the Class of 25 on Thursday 13^th November at the home of our current Showcase Champions, York Racecourse.”

Kate Freeman, Head of Ownership at the Racehorse Owners Association, said on behalf of the judging panel “As a panel, we were impressed by both the quantity and quality of this year’s Showcase Awards submissions. It was clear to see that racecourses take customer experience very seriously, and we were delighted by the levels of excellence and innovation on show.

“Congratulations to all of the Finalists, and we sincerely hope that all racecourses take note of the best practice on show here.”

Showcase Awards 2025 - Finalists

Marketing
Aintree – Fearless Style, Unforgettable Stories
Ascot – Free The Ascot You
Chester – Boodles May Festival, ‘For the Grace. And for the Glory’
Newmarket – Summer Saturdays 2025
Royal Windsor – Berkshire Winter Million

Racing Foundation Green Award
Ascot – Racing to Zero, Summer Mile Racing Weekend
Haydock Park – The Haydock Park Landscape
Huntingdon - Creating Nature’s Corridor – A Greener, Stronger Huntingdon Racecourse

Diversity & Inclusion
Arena Racing Company – Delivering Through Partnerships
Carlisle – Ladies Night
Sedgefield – From the Pitch to the Parade Ring: A Partnership Powering Community and Women’s Sport
Wincanton – The Paddock Society
Wolverhampton – African & Caribbean Community Engagement

Racing Together Community Award
Chelmsford City – 10 Years of Community
Cheltenham – A Partnership Through Time – Cotswold Riding for the Disabled
Hereford – Richard Layton Charity Raceday: Making Mental Health the Front Runner
Jockey Club Racecourses – 100,000 Opportunities for Young People to Experience Our Sport
Sandown Park – Community Fund for Elmbridge

Exceptional Raceday Delivery (≤7,999)
Bath – Easter Sunday Family Fun Day
Chelmsford City – End of Summer Sessions Party
Kempton Park – Community Raceday
Musselburgh – The 90s Friday Night at the Races
Ripon – Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Association with Harrogate Theatre

Exceptional Raceday Delivery (≥8,000)
Ascot – Howden Christmas Family Raceday
Chester – Roman Day
Newbury – The Coral Gold Cup
Ripon – William Hill Great St Wilfrid – Charity Race Day
York – “No Trouble Making” Summer Music Saturday

Food & Beverage
Ayr – The Sparkling Seafood Package
Beverley – Booking to Pudding
Goodwood – Local Restaurant Pop-up
Jockey Club Catering – Food & Beverage during the Randox Grand National Festival 2025
Newbury – Bar None - Newbury Racecourse’s No & Low Alcohol Lounge

Racing Connection
Arena Racing Company – Hearing it From the Horse’s Mouth: Making the Voices of Stablestaff Heard
Ayr – Ayr Racing Club
Ludlow – Behind the Scenes Raceday
Pontefract – Chairman’s Challenge
Southwell – Working with Coolmore

Racing Post Readers’ Award
Ayr
Hexham
Musselburgh
Newbury
Salisbury

Owners’ Racecourse of the Year
Ayr
Bangor-On-Dee
Hamilton Park
Newbury
York