Which tracks offer the gold standard for owners?

Fifteen British racecourses have been awarded the ROA's highest accolade for the next 12 months with the announcement of the association's gold standard winners for 2018.

In the large racecourse section the six venues to be recognised – Ascot, Ayr, Cheltenham, Chester, Haydock and York – are the same tracks as featured in the lists for 2016 and 2017.

However there were some new names in the small racecourse category, with Carlisle, Perth and Uttoxeter all receiving gold standard recognition for the first time.

Hamilton, Market Rasen and Musselburgh all kept up their 100 per cent record of appearing in each of the four years the scheme has been run competitively, while Bangor, Fakenham and Sedgefield were adding to their inclusion 12 months ago.

Market Rasen has attained the ROA gold standard for ownership experience for a fourth consecutive year

The award of the gold standard reflects the ROA membership and committee's observations on all 61 racecourses in Britain and is designed to highlight those courses that offer the best welcome to owners and, in addition to the 15 recipients, Newbury and Wetherby were marked out as having made substantial progress.

ROA chief executive Charlie Liverton said: "The number of racecourses – particularly in the small category – rising to the challenge of the competitive gold standard award process has continued to impress the committee, although more work is still to be done in ensuring a minimum standard across all racecourses. This is something we will be looking to address into 2019 and look forward to announcing some exciting developments in due course."

The large and small racecourse of the year will be unveiled from among the 15 contenders at the ROA Horseracing Awards in London on December 6.

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