Sedgefield Racecourse is celebrating 90 years as a limited company this year. Racing has been taking place at Sedgefield since around 1732, with the first recorded meetings in 1846. By the mid-twenties Sedgefield had three meetings, including a lucrative Boxing Day fixture. The current Racecourse Company was founded in 1927, and has seen the fixtures gradually increase to the current twenty days.
To celebrate 90 years as a limited company Arena Racing Company has invested £90,000 in to the facilities including the new Bistro 1927 café providing light bites and fresh Italian ground coffee and hot chocolate open Thursday, Sunday & Racedays. The Sea Merchant Fish Shop extending in the spring meaning this will provide a greater choice of retail offering plus additional seating in both areas for the public. The investment also brings relocation and refurbishment of the Owners & Trainers suite following constructive feedback from loyal owners and trainers, now located next to the weighing room and parade ring. The refurbishment for the new winners suite is also underway to accommodate more owners and syndicates celebrating once their horse has won and will adaptly be named after the legend trainer Denys Smith.
This development will ensure further job prospects for the local community and will also increase footfall in the village once the marketing campaign begins.
Ongoing investment also provided an increase in prize money allowing two series finals to take place this year. The recent investment of £30,000 total prize fund in to this first series final which took place on Sunday 5 March, the Collins Seafoods Young Chasers Final Raceday resulted in Mrs. C Williams taking home the prize money with On The Road trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Adam Wedge. The second series is the Betfred Hurdle Series Final which will take place on Wednesday 29 March with a total prize fund of £20,000.
The racecourse will be celebrating 90 years at their Race Evening on Thursday 4 May and would like to celebrate with the local community by offering 1927 free tickets to be claimed. The race evening includes seven live races plus after racing entertainment from X-Factors Michael Rice and Soul Songs from Ashley Tweddle. The evening will also be supporting local charity Bringing Back a Smile, a charity that aims to help adults and children in the north with life threatening illnesses. To claim your free ticket for the event, text SEDGEFIELD to 60777.
For more information on the Celebrate Racing Since 1927 Raceday or to book tickets visit www.sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk or call 01740 621925
