Jockey Club live performs well

In its first year of operation, Jockey Club Live, the music and entertainment arm of Jockey Club Racecourses, has already become the sixth largest music promoter in Britain in terms of attendances.

Figures released by Jockey Club Racecourses show that more than 300,000 people attended race meetings featuring post-racing concerts at JCR tracks and, through contract, at Newbury and York. Artists performing included Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Kaiser Chiefs, Beach Boys, Dizzee Rascal, James Blunt, Boyzone and Wet Wet Wet.

The profits from these concerts are being reinvested back into racing through prize money contributions, improving racecourse facilities and supporting other initiatives to promote British racing.

Andrew Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Jockey Club Live, said: “Our first season of racing and music has gone really well. We only formed the venture at the turn of the year after a lengthy tender process, whereas normally we would have a number of artists secured and on sale by then.

“As an ardent racing fan myself, it's great to have a partner in Jockey Club Racecourses who puts everything it makes from our success back into the sport.

“We’ve received a huge amount of positive feedback from racegoers and artists about the quality of the sound and production, which we step-changed through the new venture.

“We’ve also learned plenty in year one to inform our approach and are already in discussions to attract high calibre artists for our 2015 roster, who we look forward to announcing in due course.”