1. Education Award for Hexham Racecourse
The racecourse has received an award from the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust in recognition of their support for the Racing to School education programme 2011.
 Hexham Racecourse hosted 2 Racing to School events in the year providing 57 pupils with an unique learning experience through the sport of horseracing. The award certificate can be viewed here. (This is a PDF and you need Adobe Reader software to view it. If you don't have it, download it free here).
2. Annual Member's Badge
 Once again annual members' badges are proving extremely popular this year and are still available. An annual badge entitles the holder to admission to fourteen* Hexham meetings, more than thirty* reciprocal meetings at racecourses throughout the country and a free day at a Durham County Cricket Club fixture at The Riverside, Chester-le-Street.
Find out more on our membership page. *Note these numbers refer to membership badges purchased at the start of the season.
3. Last Meeting - 7th Dec - A Festive End to Racing Year
A successful year of National Hunt racing came to a close on 7th December when there was be a festive atmosphere for the last meeting of 2011 at Yarridge Heights.
A full set of the day's results can be found here.
Hexham Racecourse has recorded another successful year with sponsors and racegoers remaining very loyal during the current economic downturn.
Charles Enderby, Chief Executive and Managing Director told the Courant;
"We have been greatly encouraged by the way racegoers, sponsors, owners and trainers have continued to support Hexham in these difficult financial times".
"Attendances have remained buoyant and our research continues to confirm the popularity of Hexham with both regular racegoers and those new to the sport".
"Our meetings continue to attract owners, trainers and racegoers from throughout Britain and Ireland and the televising of all our meetings on National television and in more than ten thousand betting shops shows the world at large just what Tynedale has to offer."
The fixture list for next year has now been confirmed and can be found on the website here.
The Racecourse Executive has decided not to increase prices for 2012.
Annual members' badges are now available for 2012 which not only give access to all Hexham's meetings but also complimentary entry to more than forty additional meetings at racecourses throughout the country. You can order them online from the membership page.
The Racecourse has appointed local girl Lauren Dobson to the new position of Marketing Executive.
Lauren was educated at Ashington High School and has been associated with the Racecourse from a young age. She has worked part time for a number of years at the course on racecdays, latterly as Assistant Secretary, prior to being appointed full time Marketing Executive.
4. Proposed Wind Energy Project at Hexham Racecourse
The Hexham Steeplechase Company Ltd., are proposing to install two small to medium wind turbines for generating electricity at Hexham Racecourse. Prior to a planning application being submitted a range of studies and assessments are being carried out.
A FULL Guide to the Proposed Project can be read or downloaded by clicking here. (You will need the Adobe Reader software to view it. It can be downloaded free here).
Charles Enderby, Chief Executive of the Racecourse told the Hexham Courant:
"Achieving a carbon neutral environment at the Racecourse is very important to us but is not the only rationale for the plans. The additional income which will be achieved is very necessary to safeguard the future of Northumberland's only remaining racecourse in what are extremely difficult economic times for the racing industry and Tynedale."
For further information contact:
The Hexham Racecourse Office, The Riding, Acomb, Hexham, NE46 4PF
Tel: 01434 606881
E-mail: admin@hexham-racecourse.co.uk
5. BETFAIR/NASS Project awards £25,000 to the racecourse
 BETFAIR have donated £25,000 to the National Association of Stable Staff (NASS) to be used to improve facilities at Hexham racecourse.
 NASS established a minimum standard for stable staff facilities at racecourses and Betfair agreed to sponsor a joint project with NASS to enable their donation to be used for the benefit of stable staff.
The Betfair/NASS Project was announced in March 2011 and independent racecourses were asked to bid for funds on a match-funded basis to improve their stable staff facilities in line with the NASS minimum standards.
Six Racecourses put in submissions for funding and the past four months have been spent exploring the potential benefits of the bids to stable staff and racecourses and the necessity for the improvements.
The decision of the Project Panel, which comprised Betfair and NASS representatives, is that the whole of the funding should go to Hexham Racecourse for their proposal to build a new second stable staff accommodation facility, which will enable both male and female staff to stay on site near their horses.
The present arrangement means that when more than one gender wishes to stay then Hexham have to utilise local bed and breakfast facilities at short notice, and not all are completely satisfactory.
Jim Cornelius, NASS Chief Executive, said: “I would stress that this was not a rejection of the other bids, all of which we would have loved to have funded, but the Hexham submission was clearly one that we had to support.
“It doesn’t surprise me that four out of the six bids were from National Hunt Racecourses as they are generally more likely to be struggling financially and we are more likely to get complaints from them as opposed to other racecourses.
“Hexham is a lovely racecourse which, due to its location, requires overnight stays and is not in the top league financially or in race terms. But we are delighted to have been able to help them out in this manner.”
Betfair’s Martin Cruddace, Chief Legal & Regulatory Affairs Officer, commented: “We have committed to support grass roots racing to the tune of £3m in a three year period, and it was only right and proper that this five-figure sum was set aside for the benefit of stable staff".
“Let’s hope the staff that keep the show on the road feel the benefits once Hexham have completed their upgrade".
Dennis Gallagher, Marketing Manager at Hexham Racecourse, said that they were delighted to have been successful with their bid to secure funding for improvements and additions to existing lads and girls stable staff accommodation.
Dennis Gallagher said: “The very generous gesture made by Betfair, in the interest of racing in general and the National Association of Stable Staff in particular, is greatly appreciated.”
6. Ladies Put On The Style at Yarridge Heights
The threat of rain failed to deter the ladies of Tynedale and beyond who turned on the style at Yarridge Heights last Sunday when Hexham Racecourse staged the annual totesport Ladies' Day meeting.
Northern fashion matched the best that Royal Ascot could offer and Lesley Lister and her team from Tyne Tees Models had not only the almost impossible task of judging the Best Dressed Lady and the Most Elegant Hat but also the Best 'Looking' Jockey.
Jennie Collingwood from Co. Durham won the award for Best Dressed Lady and Joanne Routledge from Newcastle upon Tyne the prize for the most elegant hat.
Find out much more and see the winners in their 'Sunday best' on our special 2011 LADIES DAY PAGE.
One of the largest crowds of the year saw seven exciting National Hunt races and enjoyed a varied programme of supporting events including a pre-race "beauty parade" of jockeys.
Among the large crowd were many appreciative dads and their families who were celebrating Fathers' Day.
A few punters started celebrating after the first race when outsider Kalanisi Kid. beat odds on Irish rival Priors Gold. The winner is trained by Stuart Coltherd at Selkirk and returned odds of 33-1. Tote customers fared even better. Kalanisi Kid returned £91.50 to a £1 stake.
Hexham Racecourse is now in summer recess and the next meeting will take place on Friday September 30th.
7. Hexham Racecourse - Wins Award
It was recently announced that Hexham Racecourse has been awarded the accolade "Best Small Racecourse in Scotland and North East England" by the influential Racegoers Club.
The Club, which has 5000 members, is widely recognised as one of the sport's leading organisations. The award is "in recognition of the Course's efforts on behalf of the racing public."
Commenting on the award Dennis Gallagher, Racecourse Marketing Manager told the Courant;
"We are delighted to receive such recognition from one of the most important groups in racing. The award is a tribute to the hardworking and dedicated team at Hexham including our caterers Ramside Outside Catering, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that every racegoer has an enjoyable visit."
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9. Back A Winner By Train
This is a new promotion organised jointly by the Racecourse Executive, several rail companies and The Tote to encourage more race goers to travel to Hexham by train.
The "Back A Winner By Train" incentive enables race goers using the train, to enjoy £4 discount off the FULL price admission to Hexham. In addition there will be a £2 discount off a toteplacepot bet of £5 or more. Race goers will be able to buy their tickets at more than 90 stations throughout the North.
PLEASE NOTE: This promotional offer is NOT available in conjunction with existing racecourse entrance discounts - this includes the Concessions Gate entrance which is already discounted.
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