2003 was yet another record-breaking year for British Racing as two of the key indicators of the sport鈥檚 health, total attendances and prize money, reached new heights. Continued advances were achieved in other areas such as horses in training and fixtures.
The further gains in 2003 maintain the long-term trend of improvement in the sport which has gained rapid pace in recent years.
Prize money in 2003 reached a new record of 拢94.1m, a rise of 12% on 2002 – which was itself a record 拢84.2m 鈥� and 31% on 2001鈥檚 拢71.7m.
Attendances have topped six million for the first time in over half a century, with 2003鈥檚 total of 6.02m up 8% on 2002鈥檚 5.56m.
2003 also saw increases over 2002 in areas such as:
鈥orses in training (13,288 compared to 12,986, a rise of 2.3%)
鈥ew owner registrations (5,786 compared to 5,511, a rise of 5%)
鈥ixtures (1,220 compared to 1,158, a rise of 5.3%)
鈥aces (8,028 compared to 7,691, a rise of 4.4%)
鈥horoughbred horses sold at public sales (6,949 compared to 6,683, a rise of 4%)
鈥nd the value of those sales (拢198.26m compared to 拢163.76m, a rise of 21%)
BHB Chief Executive Greg Nichols said:
鈥淚t is sometimes easy to overlook that British Racing is one of the few sports which can honestly say that it is getting stronger and better as each year goes by. Racing is on the up.
鈥淭his sustained progress is the result of the sectors of the sport working in conjunction with a strong governing authority. BHB鈥檚 co-ordination of a properly structured Fixture List and race programme as well as its marketing initiatives, which are increasingly raising the profile of the sport, have played a major and essential role.
鈥淧rize money would have been even higher in 2003 had it not been for the Levy Board鈥檚 unfortunate and unnecessary decision to cut back its contribution in the last four months of the year. We hope for even better news in all areas in 2004.鈥�
Notes
1. 1998-2003 comparative figures are shown below.
2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000 – 1999 – 1998
Prize Money (拢)
94,149,963 – 84,203,203 – 71,662,045 – 71,690,306 – 69,062,983 – 63,658,676
Attendances
6,019,481 – 5,557,758 – 4,886,293 – 5,164,061 – 5,175,490 – 4,988,122
Horses In Training
13,288 – 12,986 – 13,310 – 12,731 – 12,737 – 12,594
Number of Fixtures
1,220 – 1,158 – 1,065 – 1,132 – 1,151 – 1,139
Number of Races
8,028 – 7,691 – 7,141 – 7,422 – 7,528 – 7,314
2. Prize money in 2003 was 拢94,149,963, split 拢61,607,020 Flat and 拢32,542,943 Jump.
