Welcome to another blog from the team at Pontefract Racecourse.
Every fortnight, someone from the team will share their thoughts for your entertainment (or otherwise!):
- Managing Director, Norman Gundill with his trusty PA, Caroline who also looks after the hospitality,
- Accounts Manager, Nicola,
- Admin manager, Carol,
- Marketing exec, Alexia, who is writing this blog, and,
- Chief Operating Officer, Richard
Mark your calendars for Monday, 14th April, back again for its fourth year in a row, is the OAP Free Raceday.
On this day, anyone aged 60 and over can request complimentary admission to the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure and enjoy a day at Pontefract Races for free!
For a completely free and fantastic family day out, why not bring the grandchildren along too! As don’t forget under 18’s go free in to all enclosures, at every meeting.
To receive a free ticket on this day, simply click on the ticket icon in the top right corner of the screen, select the OAP Free Raceday, scroll down to ‘Grandstand and Paddock’, click this heading and the option to add a free ticket to your basket will appear.
Please note that you can only add one free ticket to your basket. It will also ask you to enter your date of birth at checkout, by doing so you are confirming you are over 60. You may be asked for ID on the day.
The free ticket is only available online and will be sent to your email address as an e-ticket. It is not available on the day at the gate, but it will be available to order from our website up until 12pm on the 14th April.
We chose the date of our first OAP Free Day so that was early in the racing season to help drive attendance at the quieter, midweek meetings, we went with Monday 11th April, the 2nd meeting of our 2022 season. On this day 4017 racegoers attended the fixture which was a 39.4% increase on the attendance from the same fixture in 2019.
A relatively quiet Monday afternoon meeting, has gradually increased over the years to become one of our most popular and well attended fixtures, last year we saw 4362 attend the meeting and already this year we have emailed out nearly 1000 free tickets.
The success of the imitative was recognised across the industry, in the same year it was launched, the OAP Free Day received the Racecourse Association Raceday Award which was held here at Pontefract!
The day has since grown year on year, last year we introduced an upgrade option for the Dalby Stand. The idea was for racegoers to interact and get to know one other, while also having a base for the day.
The OAP Free Day Dalby Upgrade costs £27.50 per person, and is available to purchase online. The ticket includes an upgrade into the Premier Enclosure, a seat for the entire day, tea, coffee and biscuits, sandwich buffet and racecard and a pen.
If you fancy, you can also upgrade your free Grandstand and Paddock ticket for a Premier Enclosure Badge for £6.00, this can be done either on the day or online. If you purchase the £6.oo Premier Upgrade, there is no need to also add the free ticket to your basket.
There is also a discount in the Park Suite Restaurant on this day. The Park Suite Restaurant offers a reserved table for the day with views overlooking the Parade Ring and Winning Post. It includes admission into the Premier Enclosure, a four course carvery lunch with light afternoon tea.
If you would like anymore information, please email info@pontefract-races.co.uk
While OAPs can enjoy free entry into the Grandstand and Paddock, this is a day for everyone to come along and soak up the excitement.
We hope you can join us for a great day at the races and experience an afternoon of thrilling racing at one of Yorkshire’s most traditional Racecourses! You’ll receive a warm, friendly, Yorkshire welcome from the team at Pontefract, so come and join us for a great day out!
Don’t forget, this fixture is an Autism Friendly Raceday, with a dedicated sensory room and designated quiet and safe space. To find out more please visit: autisminracing.com