Perth Racecourse targets biggest season yet

Three months after taking the reins of Scotland’s most popular racecourse, new Perth Racecourse chief executive Hazel Peplinski has indicated that that this season is bet to be its biggest yet.

Mrs Peplinski has issued a rally cry to the people of Tayside to help the local venue hold its position as the best-attended racecourse in Scotland.

She said: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to walk in to such an amazing organisation and have the opportunity to build on the great work which has been done by Sam Morshead and our late chairman, David Whitaker.

“Our attendances in terms of daily average crowds were larger than any other Scottish course in 2015 and is something I’m keen to maintain.

“The scope for the racecourse to grow is huge with 90% of the Scottish population living within 90 minutes.”

Opening with the nationally renowned three-day Perth Festival, the prize money on offer is £219,000, 8 per r cent higher than in previous years and is set to attract more owners and trainers than ever before.

This year the racecourse opened up the opportunity to sponsor the Highland National after a five year contract came to a close with its predecessor, unveiling Stonehaven-based Deeside Timberframe as the new appointment.

Malcolm Thomson, operations director from Deeside Timberframe said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to take the top spot at Perth. Perth is such a fantastic regional location for our business, which expands from Stonehaven to across the whole of the UK. We are looking forward to seeing our name in lights and entertaining our clients at such a vibrant sporting occasion, which of course will soon include The Lodge hotel, which we at Deeside are proud to be constructing for Perth.”

Perth also revealed that for the first time in the Festival’s 27-year history, every race in the three-day event has been sponsored, which shows great investment into the local course and community, putting Perth as a destination to do business on the map.

Mrs Peplinski added: “My job is to make sure we fulfil the potential and continue to give everyone in the local community and surrounding areas a facility they can be proud of – we are the City’s racecourse.

“So much work has been done by the whole team to ensure that this season is our best yet and if the Perth Festival is anything to go by, we’re expecting great numbers to come racing this year with a great atmosphere to match. Look out for our ‘Live at Perth’ act, Bwani Junction, on the Friday after racing.”

Ahead of Perth’s popular three-day festival that runs 20-22 April, Mrs Peplinksi confirmed that hospitality at the Friday fixture has sold out with limited availability remaining in the first two days.