Leicester, York and Hamilton praised as Arc pledges to improve accommodation

Leicester, York and Hamilton are the racecourses that have made the most improvements to their facilities for stable staff since the start of 2020, according to the National Association of Racing Staff inspectorate.

Racecourse inspector Pete McCulloch said 44 of the 59 British tracks now provide free food to stable staff and that the remaining 15 should follow suit.

Newcastle's Northumberland Plate meeting in June was marked by controversy over reports of substandard levels of accommodation and facilities for stable staff, prompting owners Arc to promise single-occupancy overnight accommodation at all its tracks.

The Racecourse Inspectors Programme (RCI) was introduced in 2017 to assess different aspects of stable staff facilities at British racecourses from one to five stars. The last overall league table was produced in 2019 when Ascot was top and Worcester bottom.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, when inspections were scaled back, there is no updated table for 2021 but the RCI hopes to produce one for 2022.

'Single occupancy is the priority in 2021'

McCulloch, who is travelling head lad to Hugo Palmer, told an annual general meeting of NARS at the Racing Centre in Newmarket: "Our aim as inspectors is to achieve hotel-style overnight accommodation for stable staff across the board.

"Single occupancy is the priority in 2021, including en-suite, and since the first findings were published in 2017 I'm pleased to say we've seen big improvements at all tracks."

McCulloch, who is one of nine inspectors, added: "It's not just the bigger tracks that have made the effort as Leicester has made massive improvements. The track came in for huge criticism over the past couple of years but they've put their hand in their pocket and really improved the place.

"There's an up-to-date canteen, rest area and recreational space and the rooms have been modernised and refurbished. I congratulate them on their massive effort."

Facilities for stable staff at Leicester have been significantly improved since 2019

In 2019, Leicester was give three stars for its facilities but two others who were already in the five-star bracket have not rested on their laurels.

"Hamilton Park has recently changed its overnight accommodation to a hotel – the Hamilton Park Hilton – which went down very well with stable staff. It's a modern, new premises and is very relaxing," McCulloch added.

"Also York, which was very well documented by ITV at the Ebor meeting, has refurbished its entire hostel and turned every room into an en-suite, which is a massive investment from them and it goes to show what improvements can be made even if the racecourse is making a loss."

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On events at the Northumberland Plate meeting, McCulloch said: "Because of what happened at Newcastle, Arc has promised single-occupancy overnight accommodation in the future, which is a move we welcome."

McCulloch added: "I'm pleased to say that from 59 racecourses, 44 now offer free food to stable staff or at least one free meal at their venues, which is a massive step forward. If it's not free we want to know why and also we would aim to improve the quality as no good and free is not acceptable."

George McGrath, chief executive of NARS, said: "We now have the Jockey Club and Arc providing staff with a meal free of charge when racing. That covers 30 tracks in addition to another 14 independents doing the same. We'll continue to work with the remaining 15 independent tracks that still charge a fee."

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