Facts and Figures

Demographics of Racing

Audiences

• In 2006 just under 6 million people went racing.
• 26% of the British population have been racing, but not in the past 12 months
• 8.3m people watched The John Smith’s Grand National on BBC1 in 2006
• 3.7m people watched the Vodafone Derby on BBC1 in 2006
• 35% of racegoers are female
• 30% are aged under 35 years
• 28% of racegoers come from the wealthy “AB” socio-economic grouping

General Statistics

• There are 59 racecourses in Great Britain
• 18 stage only Flat racing
• 24 stage only Jump racing
• 17 stage both
• 3 currently stage All-Weather flat racing, 1 under floodlights, although Great Leighs Racecourse in Essex, the first new racecourse in 75 years, which will be a floodlit All-Weather track, is due to start racing later this year.
• Horseracing is the second most televised sport on terrestrial tv after football – accounting for 9.5% of total sports coverage on terrestrial TV, 5.3% of sports coverage on BBC and 33% of sports coverage on Channel 4.
• Horseracing boasts two dedicated horseracing Channels: Racing UK which is a digital subscription channel and also part of the Setenta sports package, and At The Races which is part of the basic Sky package.
• Horseracing is broadcast into around 9,000 betting shops across Britain, realising average midweek audiences of 700,000 and this figure rises to 1m on Saturdays and high profile racedays.
• Horseracing and the bloodstock industry support some 60,000 jobs in Britain, including the equivalent of 1 in 8 agricultural workers.
• There are over 9,000 active racehorse owners and around 15,000 horses in training in Britain.

For further information on race sponsorship availability, please contact:

Mary-Ann Sandercock
Race Sponsorship / Corporate Hospitality Unit

The Racecourse Association Ltd
Winkfield Road
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7HX

Telephone: (01344) 626067
Fax: (01344) 627233

Email: maryann.sandercock@racecourseassociation.co.uk

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