Curtain comes down on a successful year at Nottingham Racecourse

The course, at Colwick Park, stages its final meeting of 2014 next Wednesday (5th November). More than 30,000 spectators have seen more than 1,600 horses run in over 160 races and scoop more than £1 million in prize money.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the course will receive the ‘Gold Standard’ award it has won from the Racehorse Owners’ Association for “revitalising the experience of having a runner at Nottingham”.

Richard Hannon jnr will also be presented with an accolade for being the leading trainer of two-year-olds at Nottingham in 2014.

And a special lunch will be held to thank outgoing general manager Pip Kirkby, who is stepping down after nine years. The most valuable race of the day will also be named in Pip’s honour.

Said the course’s new general manager, James Knox: “Although I have been in post for only a few weeks, the enthusiasm of both our visitors and the team here at Colwick Park is unremitting and indicates just what potential there is at the racecourse for commercial growth and further success.

“The final meeting of the season will be a real celebration of what has been attained this year but also, in a personal context, of what my predecessor, Pip Kirkby, achieved during her time as general manager.”