Racecourse Association launches 2025 showcase
- 14th annual Showcase to take place on Thursday 13th November at York Racecourse.
- Eight core award categories covering all elements of the raceday experience plus crowning of Showcase Champions.
- Two public-voted awards to hear the views of racegoers and racehorse Owners.
- RCA publishes companion guide to the event to help craft the perfect submission.
- Partnered by Great British Racing, Racing Together, Racing Foundation and Future Ticketing.
The Racecourse Association (RCA) is delighted to launch the 2025 Showcase to celebrate excellence and innovation across British racecourses during the past year.
Comprised of a conference and gala awards ceremony, the Showcase is the RCA’s marquee event, and this year will take place on Thursday 13th November at the home of our current Showcase Champion, York Racecourse. The RCA is proud to be joined by Great British Racing (GBR), Racing Together, Racing Foundation and Future Ticketing as headline partners for the event.
The Showcase Awards are the ultimate opportunity to celebrate the best of British racecourses from the past 12 months, with eight core categories covering all aspects of the raceday experience available for racecourses to enter. In addition, two public-voted awards will invite racegoers and racehorse owners to have their say and crown their respective leading racecourses. The event will conclude with the presentation of the RCA’s most prestigious award: Showcase Champion Racecourse.
Each submission is assessed by an independent, expert judging panel which this year is comprised of:
- Tara Warren, Executive Director, West Ham United FC & BHA Board Member
- Lena Hall, Facilities Planning Manager – Professional Game, England & Wales Cricket Board
- Aileen Goatley, Head of Marketing, Horse Racing Ireland
- Kate Freeman, Head of Ownership, Racehorse Owners Association
- David Carr, Racing Reporter, Racing Post
More information on this year’s event, categories and judging panel can be found in our Showcase companion Guide here.
The RCA is pleased to once again be working with a range of industry partners to further the Showcase. The winners of the Racing Together Community Award and Racing Foundation Green Award will have the opportunity to work with the organisations to produce a case study and video PR of the successful initiative.
The Racing Post Readers’ Award allows the race going public to have their say, inviting them to vote for their favourite racecourse based on customer service, value for money and overall raceday experience. The Owners’ Racecourse of the Year award, in partnership with the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), asks racehorse owners to vote for their racecourse of the year based on their raceday experience with a runner, experience without a runner and the overall racing experience as an owner.
The Showcase will begin with a half-day conference allowing some of the biggest brands in sport and leisure to share best practice alongside the leading organisations within British racing. Previous speakers have included globally recognised brands such as Eurovision, Center Parcs, Wimbledon and Silverstone. A full programme and ticket details will be available in due course.
Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA, said: “The Showcase is the ultimate celebration of British racecourses and the teams that work tirelessly to welcome millions of racegoers each year.
“Only the best initiatives can win a Showcase Award, and once again these tough decisions will be made by an expert independent judging panel with insights from British and Irish horseracing, professional football, cricket and media. Racecourse teams that take home an award can do so with pride knowing that they have impressed some of the best operators in their field.
“My thanks to our partners Great British Racing, Racing Together, the Racing Foundation, the Racehorse Owners Association, Racing Post and Future Ticketing, without which we could not host this fantastic celebration. Along with colleagues at the RCA, I eagerly look forward to seeing this year’s award submissions and crowning our class of 2025.”
John Blake, Chief Executive at Racing Together, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with the RCA to showcase and celebrate the very best of racecourse community engagement and social impact. Racing Together has been associated with the Community Award since 2019, with our support for the awards dating back further still, and we look forward to this key industry event at York Racecourse in November.
“We work year-round to amplify the impact of Racing Together Community Award entries and look forward to working with this year’s winner to produce a highlights video of their activity. Go Racing in Yorkshire was a worthy winner in 2024 and we would encourage all racecourses to consider entering.”
Louise Norman, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: “We are proud to continue our support of the RCA Showcase Awards, which celebrate innovation and excellence across British racecourses. The ownership experience is a vital part of any raceday, and these awards recognise the individuals and initiatives that go the extra mile to make owners feel welcomed, valued, and part of the sport. We’re delighted to champion that commitment and look forward to celebrating this year’s nominees and winners.”
Tansy Challis, Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, said: “The Racing Foundation is proud to continue supporting the Racing Foundation Green Award as it enters its fourth year, celebrating the very best in racecourse-led sustainability initiatives.
"We are looking forward to collaborating with the winning racecourse and the RCA to produce a promotional video, helping to amplify and share the impact of their work across the industry and beyond.
“The award continues to shine a light on the innovative activities racecourses are delivering to support British racing’s journey towards environmental sustainability.”