British Racing Sees 2.5% Attendance Growth in First Quarter of 2024

In the first three months of the year, 681,741 racegoers attended 294 race meetings, averaging 2,319 attendees per event. This marks a 4.6% increase from the same period in 2023 when 664,974 people attended 300 fixtures, according to Racecourse Association chief executive David Armstrong.

He expressed the positivity in the slight rise in attendance, especially at Premier fixtures. Armstrong also noted that the Met Office reported the wettest February in the south of England since records began in 1836, with a 27% increase in rainfall across Britain compared to the March average.

This weather posed a significant challenge for racecourse operators in fulfilling their fixtures. The data shows a challenging environment for race meetings due to the adverse weather conditions.

Despite these challenges, the small increase in attendance is seen as a positive sign by the Racecourse Association.