'It's going to be a record crowd' - New Year's Eve attendances delight tracks

Uttoxeter's clerk of the course Richard Fothergill believes the entertainment on show at its New Year's Eve card can help improve future attendances.

A sell-out crowd watched the seven-race card and Fothergill was delighted that the track attracted such interest.

He said: "It's fantastic for us and for Uttoxeter as a community because it's a locals' day and there are a lot of people who haven't travelled very far.

"It's great to have these people come in and experience what we have to offer."

Uttoxeter's card drew 88 runners, its second highest total in 2022, and 20 more than the meeting had in 2021.

Fothergill said: "It's a shame it was so wet, but the field sizes we've had have been fantastic and if a day like this can't attract people to come back then I don't know what will."

It has not been an easy season for Britain and Ireland's clerks of the course, and Fothergill said: "We've had some challenging days and New Year's Eve was tough because we weren't due to have any rain from 7am but it didn't stop.

"Some days seem relatively straightforward but this one was more of a challenge. It's a great racecourse to be a part of, however."

'We've been sold out for three weeks'

Warwick also attracted a capacity crowd for its New Year's Eve fixture and clerk of the course Tom Ryall said: "We've been sold out in hospitality and in restaurants for three weeks, and our general admission sold out over Christmas.

"It was a really good atmosphere and the rain held off until the final few races, and that certainly helped things."

More than 8,000 attended the fixture, the highest since a crowd of 7,688 in 2019.

Ryall believed they were well rewarded, with a competitive day of action featuring 83 runners, from 91 original declarations, across seven races.

He said: "It's going to be a record crowd and it's great to see people back and enjoying themselves.

"There was probably a backlog of horses wanting to run after the frosty conditions at the start of December. It helps draw the crowd in when you have that number of runners taking part."

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