Dear Owner/Trainer,
Thank you for entering your horse on Monday 13th March which is our first meeting of 2017. Below is some information that we hope you will find helpful.
Going, weather forecast, and watering. As I write on Thursday 16th February the going is Soft on the Chase Course and Soft, Good to Soft in Places on the Hurdle Track. We are forecast a dry few days with a bit of morning rain on Tuesday and then dry again into the race day.
Future Going information. The Racing Administration website or our own website www.stratfordracecourse.net) has detailed updates but, as always, you are very welcome to phone us: Our clerk of the course Nessie Lambert may be contacted on 07812 202904 (mobile); 01789 201060 (direct line to me in the office) or our Head Groundsman, Eric Harris can be reached on 07770 623 366.
Hospitality Boxes – We have one available to owners complimentary on a first come served basis. If you would like to utilise one please contact Wendy Rollason on 01789 267949. Food and drink can be arranged to suit.
Owners and Trainers Facilities – The Owners’ and Trainers’ room is situated above the Weighing Room. Take the staircase to the right of the Weighing Room (as you face it) up to the first floor. Go through the door and turn left just after the seated area. Your room is straight ahead. Here can be found food, bar facilities, and a place to sit. Adjacent are seats for you to watch the racing.
Soleowners attending the course have a choice of a voucher for acomplimentary mealin the Carvery, (no bookings, served in the Chaser Room, situated at the back of the Owners’ and Trainers’ entrance), maximum three meals per horse,or, a£5food voucher, (maximum 6 vouchersper horse), redeemable at any food outlet on the course including restaurants.
Joint/Syndicateowners attending the course have a choice of a voucher for acomplimentary mealin the Carvery, maximum three mealsper horse,ora£5food voucher(maximum 6 vouchersper horse), redeemable at any food outlet on the course. It is helpful if ownersadvise me of their choice in advance by email: ().
Trainers may also request a food voucher for themselves from the Owners desk on arrival.
Or, we will be pleased to book Owners into The Paddock Pavilion Restaurant, (situated beyond the Warwickshire Stand, three course meal), or The Gallery Restaurant (seafood and cold meat carvery; first floor, town end of Warwickshire Stand), where tables can be booked for the day. Call Jenkinsons, Caterers, 01785 252247. Please make reservations as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We do save tables for owners but please try not to leave it until the day of racing to book.
All Owners and Trainers wearing badges are offered tea, coffee and soft drinks at the racecourse’s expense in the O’s and T’s room and the Carvery Restaurant.
The winning connections and if numbers allow placed connections, will be taken to the owners area in the Paddock Suite to see a re-run of their race and enjoy a celebratory drink and light refreshments with one of our Directors.
Disabled patrons. On the first floor of the Warwickshire stand via the main doors and lift. The disabled viewing area is immediately opposite the lift doors. There are disabled WC facilities, Tote betting units and bars all within easy reach. If extra help is required, please contact the racecourse in advance of the meeting and we will be pleased to assist. There is also a viewing platform on the weighing room side of the Parade ring for disabled patrons.
Badges. Entry to the Racecourse is via the Pass System. Our policy is to give six Owners’ badges per runner to sole Owners and Syndicates, with further badges at half price. Where Syndicates have in excess of ten members attending, the standard six Owners badges will be provided, plus four Owners’ badges at half price; the remaining badges required for Syndicate members will be Club badges – also charged at half price]. If you have any queries or worries about numbers of badges, please telephone us and we will do all we can assist, especially if you are part of a syndicate or partnership. Representatives of Partnerships and Syndicates are asked to email me on or fax through a list of those requiring badges to the office before 10.30 a.m. on race days quoting your Pass card number. This information is essential for us in order to grant you speedy entrance to the racecourse and to deal with queries in advance.
Owners and Trainers’ car park. Please find enclosed a BLUE Owners’ and Trainers’ car park label. This should be displayed in your vehicle and will help our staff to get you parked as quickly and efficiently as possible. Enter the racecourse via the main gate and proceed straight, taking the road nearest the stables. Your car park is on the right.
Hotels. We strongly recommend the White Swan Hotel, owned by Fullers Brewery, if you wish to have a comfortable stay overnight in Stratford. Visit their website on www.white-swan-stratford.co.uk or book online at www.white-swan-stratford.co.uk and receive a 10% discount off the price. Quoting Stratford Racecourse: or call them on 01789 297022
Syndicates. Please would trainers with syndicates ensure that all owners coming racing are given a copy of this letter. Also, please feel free to email me on so that we can give syndicates all the help and assistance that may be needed to give them the best possible day here. Please have your Pass card number to hand if you wish to order badges over the phone. This is due to the increasing number of fraudulent requests by people who are not owners.
Owners Company Promotion – If you have a runner with us we are now able to include a business card for you in the race card (free of charge) showing your company’s details/ web address / logo. If you would like your details to be included please email them to me ndicating which race your horse is entered in.
Overnight horses and Staff. Please let us know as early as possible, preferably 24 hours before travel, if you wish to have overnight stabling. We have no staff accommodation on site so all rooms are off site in local Hotels or in Bed and Breakfast rooms. (B+B rooms get very booked up in Stratford; hence the need to avoid last minute requests, if possible).
How to get to Stratford Racecourse (CV37 9SE)- The Racecourse is 2 miles south-west of Stratford, just off the B 439 Evesham Road. Routes to the racecourse are well sign posted by brown visitor signs. From the M40, Junction 15, (Warwick junction), take the A46 South and then take the ring road round Stratford .
Traffic Flow. There is a choice of routes to the racecourse; some are signed by brown Tourist signs; other routes are marked by AA yellow signs. We have also reduced pressure on the main entrance, by taking cars headed for the centre of the course in by another entrance. A word of caution: If you are approaching the racecourse from the East, (Stratford town), DO NOT follow the signs to the Centre course, (which takes you down Paddock lane), unless you want to park in the centre of the course. Owners usually prefer the main entrance.
Queries. If you have queries or requirements with which we can help you on the day, please come to the Racecourse office. For queries before the day, please telephone us here and speak to me or Wendy. The racecourse office is situated on the left, just before the Owners and Trainers entrance and the main turnstiles, and is on the first floor.
Best wishes
Mrs Ilona Barnett
Racecourse Manager and Company Secretary