Cartmel blow: MD Cooper returning to Manchester United next month

Cartmel's loss will be Manchester United's gain when the course's managing director Steve Cooper returns to the Premier League club and his former employer at the end of next month.

Cooper, who joined the popular Lake District course a year and a half ago from United, is leaving for personal reasons.

Among his initiatives during his tenure was setting up a new hospitality venue at the track in collaboration with Cartmel-based Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, and having a Cliff Richard concert after racing on June 28.

Allen Gibb, chief executive of the Holker Group of which the racecourse forms a part, said: "It's a real blow for us. By the time Steve goes at the end of June he will have done 18 months with us and he's revolutionised a number of things.

Racing at Cartmel: the jewel in the summer-jumping crownCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We've refurbished the grandstand, we've completely refurbished the stables – it's night and day compared to how they were – and we've invested in a new reservoir because of the dry summer.

"He's led on so many fronts and built on the tremendous base that Jonathan Garratt had developed over previous years."

A replacement is not likely to be in place before Cooper leaves, but Gibb said: "We've got an exceptionally strong team and Jonathan is coming back for July and August under the auspices of his consultancy business, but the sooner we get someone in the better.

"It's a very difficult role to recruit for because racecourse managing directors don't grow on trees, and in Cumbria there are a lot of trees and even fewer racecourse managing directors on them.

"But given our experiences when we've recruited previously, we believe the draw and the profile of Cartmel nowadays, and the opportunity to live in the Lake District, is a tremendous package. We think the interest will be strong enough that we will get our person and that they can build on Steve and Jonathan's great work."

Cartmel stages the first of its nine fixtures on Saturday, and a £160,000 redevelopment of the stable complex features among the course improvements for the new season.

Clerk of the course Anthea Morshead said: "It's been a big spend and we've made these changes to further champion the welfare of the horses and race staff who travel to Cartmel, which is something exceptionally important to us."

Morshead added prize-money for the season will be maintained at the 2018 total, which was in the region of £700,000.

If you are interested in this, you should read:

Cooper is the man to carry on the good work at 'magical' Cartmel

Highly praised Garratt passes on baton after transforming Cartmel

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