Newcastle Plate Meeting 2024

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Introduction

The whole team at Newcastle Racecourse is looking forward to welcoming trainers and their staff to our 2024 Northumberland Plate meeting – the busiest and most exciting three days of our racing calendar.

We want your time with us to be enjoyable and to run smoothly. To that end, we would be extremely grateful if you could read and follow the information below.  This will help ensure that you – and your fellow colleagues – have a straightforward experience on the day(s) you are here.  We very much appreciate it is a long journey for many of you and thank you for your anticipated support and cooperation.

Stabling

Applications for stables and accommodation, stating the date and time of arrival and departure, must be sent via email to stabling@newcastle-racecourse.co.uk and jgibson@newcastle-racecourse.co.uk a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.

Trainers with runners on the second and third days are advised that it may not be possible to provide stables for horses before 6pm on the evening prior to the second and/or third day.

We ask and strongly encourage that horses should return to their training yards as soon as possible after running and when ready to depart.  This allows for stables to be cleaned to the BHA Veterinary standard, so that they can be used for the following day’s runners.  The specific requirements of the BHA’s General Instruction states that runners on the day “must have immediate access to a clean stable”.

Therefore, where possible, we also kindly ask that trainers who send multiple horses over the three days transport them in two boxes so that runners on days one and two can be taken home after racing.

Notwithstanding the above – and whilst we have more stables in our yard than most racecourses – due to the number of stables available at Newcastle versus the occupancy demand over the 3 days, there will be a requirement to stable half of the requested overnight horses on Friday night at Sedgefield Racecourse. Sedgefield is situated 5 minutes off the A1, 45 minutes South of Newcastle with excellent facilities and free local hotel accommodation provided. The yard is very quiet with lovely boxes and deep beds – a perfect overnighting alternative away from the inevitable busyness of the overnight yard turnaround at Newcastle.

Please see below the link for stable staff accommodation at Sedgefield which Newcastle Racecourse book and pay for on your behalf.

Wynyard Hall | Exclusive Wedding Venue, Gardens & Plot to Plate Dining

Positive feedback from Racing Staff staying at Sedgefield for last year’s Plate meeting

Racing Staff Accommodation

Accommodation is limited and must be booked in advance by emailing stabling@newcastle-racecourse.co.uk and jgibson@newcastle-racecourse.co.uk a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival. Accommodation will be available at a maximum of 1 member of staff per horse plus 1 travelling head person or box driver. Due to the significant numbers of racing staff looking to overnight on the Friday night, staff will be allocated free hotel accommodation as close to the racecourse as possible. But please note this does not necessarily mean they will be in their usual or previous accommodation – any alternative arrangements will be communicated with the person who made the booking.

Horse Exercise

Horses that have overnighted at either Newcastle or Sedgefield Racecourse can be exercised on the Tapeta at Newcastle from 6.30am to 8am before final track preparation for each raceday commences. There is also the option to exercise at Sedgefield if required.

Thank You

While some of our stabling/accommodation arrangements for this meeting may be different to our normal processes to ensure we meet BHA requirements, Newcastle Racecourse is very grateful for your support and assistance in this matter.  We will do our very best to make it a seamless and enjoyable meeting for all and wish you every success with your visit.