RCA Showcase Awards 2024 - finalists announced
The RCA Showcase Awards invite all British racecourses to submit entries across eight core categories chosen to reflect all aspects of racecourse operations with particular emphasis on customer experience. In addition, two public-voted awards allow racegoers to have their say: the Racing Post Readers’ Award and Owners’ Racecourse of the Year (in collaboration with the Racehorse Owners Association). Both awards attracted record engagement in 2024 with over 6,850 votes.
RCA Chairman Wilf Walsh has chosen to reward one initiative with the Chairman’s Award due to its exceptional execution and demonstration of best practice. This will be presented at the Showcase Awards ceremony.
2024 looks set to be a particularly competitive year with seven racecourses going to the ceremony with three Finalist nominations apiece. This includes former champions Ascot, Chester, Musselburgh and York as well as Chelmsford City, Ripon and Wincanton.
Reigning Showcase Champion racecourse Musselburgh has once again proved popular with the public, receiving nominations in both the Racing Post Readers’ Award and the Owners’ Racecourse of the Year. Alongside this, the racecourse has been shortlisted in the Marketing category for their Egging on the Favourite campaign.
Carlisle, Cheltenham, Goodwood, Newbury, Perth and Pontefract also impressed, receiving two nominations each. Overall, a total of 29 different racecourses and organisations have been shortlisted for an award, setting up what promises to be a fantastic evening at the Showcase Awards ceremony on Thursday 7th November at the Signet Library, Edinburgh.
Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA said: “We are thrilled to announce details of this year’s Showcase Awards Finalists. Despite the well documented headwinds facing racecourses, the core principles of the Showcase Awards, excellence & innovation, are firmly embedded within our Finalists, and it is a genuine highlight of our year to share this best practice across all British racecourses and the wider industry.
“Once again, it is wonderful to see racecourses of all sizes and from all corners of Great Britain represented. Our sincere thanks to the racecourse teams who have carefully crafted the submissions and to our independent judging panel who intensively reviewed each of them.
“We look forward to crowning the Class of 2024 on Thursday 7th November at the ceremony in Edinburgh, which we are hosting alongside reigning Showcase Champions Musselburgh Racecourse.”
Showcase Awards 2024—Finalists
Marketing
- Ascot - Royal Ascot 2024: Elevating the Ascot You
- Chelmsford City - Pick a Winner
- Doncaster - The Summer Series
- Musselburgh - Egging on the Favourite
- Plumpton - Premier Plumpton: Sussex National Raceday
Racing Foundation Green
- Carlisle - Carlisle Garden Project
- Pontefract - Sustainable Music Nights
- The Jockey Club - Natural Capital
- Wincanton - The Final Bend Busy Bee Apiary
- York - The Bustardthorpe Stand Development x Green Knavesmire 300
Diversity & Inclusion
- Ascot - Championing Women in Sport
- Carlisle - Ladies Night
- Goodwood - Markel Magnolia Cup x Riding A Dream Academy
- Pontefract - The Journey to Being a Friendly Racecourse
- Ripon - Accessibility for All
Racing Together Community
- Chelmsford City - Remembrance Raceday
- Go Racing In Yorkshire - Bowel Cancer Screening
- Royal Windsor - Supporting Ovarian Cancer Raceday
- Sandown Park - Supporting Our Local Families
- The Jockey Club - Gallagher Community Partnership
Raceday
- Chelmsford City - Good Friday Family Fun Day
- Chester - Oktoberfest
- Newbury - Al Shaqab Lockinge with Ladies’ Day
- Ripon - Gold Medal Family Day
- Warwick - Family Fun Day
Food & Beverage
- Cheltenham - The Feed Room
- Chester - The Clubhouse
- Epsom Downs - Cedric’s
- Perth - Old Stand Refurbishment
- York - Guinness is Good for You (and so is Theakstons and Fish & Chips)
Non-Raceday Event
- Bangor-on-Dee - Circuit Training for Fibrax Fenwicks Wrexham Cycling Club
- Beverley - Racing to Success
- Newcastle - Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival
- Ripon - Yorkshire’s Garden Film Set
- Wincanton - Wincanton Rocks Together
Racing Connection
- Cheltenham - Gold Cup 100
- Goodwood - Racehorse Welfare
- Haydock Park - JockeyCam Live at Betfair Chase Day
- Wincanton - Frodon’s Friends
- York - Under Jockeys’ Orders
Racing Post Readers’ Award
- Ayr
- Chester
- Kelso
- Musselburgh
- Salisbury
Owners’ Racecourse of the Year
- Ascot
- Hamilton Park
- Musselburgh
- Newbury
- Perth