Welcome to another blog from the team at Pontefract Racecourse.
Every fortnight, someone from the team will share their thoughts for your entertainment (or otherwise!):
- Managing Director, Norman Gundill with his trusty PA, Caroline who also looks after the hospitality,
- Accounts Manager, Nicola,
- Admin manager, Carol,
- Marketing exec, Alexia, who is writing today’s blog, and
- Chief Operating Officer, Richard.
Its Good Friday, the Bank Holiday Easter Weekend has arrived, and we hope you are enjoying plenty of Easter Eggs!
The Easter Weekend also means the start of the new season is right around the corner, the last couple of days have been rather hectic to say least. Final preparations to the weighing room are well underway and we have been busy settling in and organising our brand new raceday office. It is looking very smart!
I even managed to build some flat pack furniture to go in the Weighing Room and impressed myself!
It’s not just the new office and weighing room though we have to get set up, the whole Racecourse needs to be to be primed to welcome race goers back on the 2nd April. The ground staff have been hard at work getting the track ready and ensuring the Course is looking in tip top shape.
On Tuesday we have plenty of Easter treats in store, the Easter Racehorse will be on hand to dish out some chocolate goodies, we are stocked up on crème eggs. In the Picnic Enclosure we have a selection of funfair rides as well as an Easter Egg Hunt. There are images of eight eggs located around the Enclosure, you need to collect all the words to complete the sentence, once you think you have the right sentence check at the transfer gate and there may be a tasty prize in store. *Hint* download the Raceday Ready App for clues on locating the eggs!
We have a free drop in art workshop taking place with James Owen Thomas, an award-winning environmental artist between 1pm and 4pm taking place just next to the Grandstand and Paddock Turnstiles. James has created a piece of artwork for us previously as part of our sustainability campaign, the artwork is made from recycled materials including previous raceday leaflets and tickets. James has also worked for Great British Racing, having created a piece of art for the King’s Coronation that was unveiled here at Ponte.
This is an art workshop designed for all abilities, it’s a chance to get creative in a relaxed, sociable atmosphere, learning how to make your own environmentally-friendly collage!
Tuesday is also World Autism Acceptance Day, a rather fitting day to start our Autism Friendly Racedays. There is still time to register for tickets on Tuesday, please email autisminracing@gmail.com
There is plenty taking place throughout the Course and we are very much looking forward to welcoming race goers back for another year!
Out on the track we have the first leg of the stayers championship, The Jamaican Flight Handicap Stakes. The Stayers Championship is for all races run over two miles, there are nine races in total. The winner of the each race receives 9 points, 6 points for second, 4 points for third and 3 points for fourth. The owner, trainer and stable of the Championship winner each win £1500.
Enjoy your weekend and hopefully we will see you Tuesday!