PERTH RACECOURSE

STRUCTURE OF THE RACECOURSE`

· Perth Racecourse trades as The Perth Hunt on land leased from Mansfield Estates
in Scone Palace Park. Perth has thirteen National Hunt fixtures from April to September and any profit is reinvested in facilities.
Chairman - Mr David Whitaker
Racecourse Manager - Sam Morshead
Raceday Clerk of the Course - Anthea Morshead
Marketing Manager - Julie Manners

PRIZE MONEY
· Total prize money increased by approximately 50% from £500,000 to £750,000.
· All Steeplechases run at £7000 or more.
· All Hurdle races run at £6000 or more.
· £10,000+ race on all racedays.
· Five races with prize money over £20,000.
· All races have prize money down to 4th place and a number to sixth place.
· Sponsorship contributions have risen 11.5% from £110,000 in 2001 to £122,500
In 2002 and a new record this year £125,000. All races have been sponsored for a number of years. All races have momentoes and 'Best Turned Out' prizes.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
· In the nineties a new stand, The Dewhurst Stand, was completed providing
excellent private facilities with balconies for corporate clients at a cost of 1.5m. This investment provided income growth to allow major annual refurbishment of all public facilities and the racing surface.

· In 1999 saddling boxes were converted into private suites overlooking the Parade Ring and new Saddling Stalls were provided, cost £75,000.

· In 2000 the Weighing Room building was extended to provided improved Medical facilities for jockeys and the public at a cost of £200,000.

· In 2002 a New Owners and Trainers Bar and Restaurant was opened by the Provost of Perth. This spacious new facility is now acclaimed as one of the best Owners and Trainers facilities in the United Kingdom. It is also providing a very good facility for exhibitions and conferences on non-racedays. Cost £230,000.

· Perth invests annually in the racing surface and new machinery. This includes annual investment in drainage and course improvements of £50,000. A new Haytor Mower at £40,000, new Turf Tractor £20,000, Irrigator £15,000, Verti Drainer £8000.

INVESTMENT IN STAFF AND TRAINING

· Perth has invested heavily in staff and staff training. Two of our three permanent
Groundstaff have completed and passed the Advanced BTB Groundsman's Course and the third member of the team the Basic Course. The Raceday Clerk of the Course has completed the Intermediate Groundsman;'s Course and passed with Distinction.

· The Perth Hunt has invested in a new permanent member of office staff, a
Marketing Manager, Julie Manners and also a full time Secretary and Treasurer, Morag Reid.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

· Due to a focus on attracting sponsors and providing high levels of prize money
Perth has moved for 37th to 14th in the British Horseracing Board Merit Table.

· Annual turnover has risen over the last ten years from £100,000 to 1m.

· The Perth Festival is the most valuable three day NH meeting in Scotland.

· Perth has the highest average crowd of all the five Scottish Racecourses of over
3000 per day.

· Perth has won the 'Best Small Racecourse' Award in Scotland and the North
East six times in the last twelve years.

* Perth has the biggest Family Raceday in Scotland with more than 10,000 racegoers
enjoying Perth Gold Cup Day on the third Sunday in June.

· Perth is renowned for its special exciting and friendly atmosphere with NH racing
taking place in a beautiful setting throughout the summer months.

· Excellent private facilities ensure that Perth stays high on the list of Corporate
Opportunities and annually provides a corporate outing for over 200 companies with over 4000 guests per annum.

· Betting turnover, due to increased field sizes, has increased by 80% over the last
five years.

* A new record number of racegoers in 2003 looks likely to exceed 60,000.

INTERESTING FACTS

· Both Bideree and Earth Summit won their first steeplechase around Perth and then went on to win the Grand National. (Lucius owned by Fiona Whitaker wife of the present Chairman, after winning the Grand National got beaten at Perth by Good Prospect ridden by S. Morshead the present racecourse manager!)
· Jonjo O'Neill rode five winners from five rides in 1978
· Tony McCoy won his 250th race of his record breaking season in 1998 at Perth.
· Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother visited Perth in 1970 and 1977.
· The Queen had her first winner here with First Love this season.
· Richard Guest threw in the towel and retired from riding only to start again 18 months later.
· Andy Turnell had to take protection after failing to start on a well backed favourite, angry punters tried to storm the weighroom.
· A host of Irish trainers regularly send runners to Perth, Tony Martin was top trainer at the course in 2001.
· Large southern stables now send horses regularly to Perth, these include P Hobbs, P. Nichols, Venetia Williams, N Twiston Davies, K Bailey, P Webber, I Williams, others including Martin Pipe and Nicky Henderson occasionally. More than an 800 mile round trip.

THE FUTURE

We look forward to an exciting year in 2004 when we are confident of continuing our growth. Our Festival meeting in April will once again start our season on a high note with the racing focus being on Perth in the third week of April. Some exciting new sponsors are already in place for this high profile fixture.

We will market a very special fixture on the weekend of June 5th/6th when we will enjoy the Vodafone Epsom Derby on a Big Screen and party prior to an exciting Saturday evening fixture and on the Sunday we will hold our big family McEwans Perth Gold Cup meeting with entertainment all day for both young and old. We will plan to fill all the local hotels and guest houses for what will be a terrific weekend in Perthshire. Throughout the year we plan to make the very best use of an exciting Hilton Racing Breaks promotion, which should be of great use to the many racegoers that travel a long way to enjoy our unique atmosphere.

Plans are on the drawing board for an extension to The Dewhurst Stand to provide extended facilities to include a new large Dining Room and an Annual Members Bar.