Ascot makes history by becoming the Showcase Awards champion for a third time

The Ascot team receive the RCA Showcase award

Ascot became the first three-time winner when it was crowned overall champion at the Racecourse Association Showcase awards on Thursday night.

The event, which celebrates excellence and innovation across Britain’s racecourses, has been held since 2010 and Ascot also reigned supreme in 2014 and again in 2016.

The Berkshire track received the prize after coming out on top in two categories and being a finalist in a third, and was acclaimed at the climax of a black-tie ceremony at York racecourse — last year’s champion.

Accepting the award, Ascot chief executive Felicity Barnard said: "We've had a really good year and I think listening to the stories from all the racecourses so has everyone else in this room too. Racing is in a good place. We've had some great crowds across this room so there's lots to celebrate.

"I'm incredibly proud of everybody at Ascot, not just this small part of the team here but also everyone back in Berkshire as well."

Felicity Barnard: "I'm incredibly proud of everybody at Ascot"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Newbury won the Racing Post readers’ award, for which votes were up by nearly a third on last year.

It was the only prize of the night decided by the racing public and among plaudits submitted by those who plumped for the winning course were: "It's a cornerstone of the local community" and "Always a very friendly welcome, from the CEO to the lollipop man."

Newbury was also judged the overall winner in the Groundstaff Awards, on a night when nine different tracks or racecourse groups picked up prizes.

RCA chair Wilf Walsh congratulated Ascot and said: “It provides an exemplary raceday experience across its year-round fixture list, including some of the sport’s most important events.

“Racecourse teams across the country continue to deliver fantastic events and strive to delight racegoers.

“Each of the winners and highly commended are now quite rightly celebrated for their excellence and the RCA looks forward to sharing this best practice with its members and wider audiences in the year ahead.”