Awards & Accolades

Ripon can proudly display the quality assured logo after being awarded the status following their recent assessment by visit England. The accolade assesses the level of customer care and service at visitor attractions across the country and Ripon is now one of the honoured to receive it. This familiar quality rose ensures racegoers that their experience at Ripon will be that of high quality and thorough enjoyment.

It’s not just us telling you that Ripon Races is an enjoyable day out, we now have the backing of Visit England to reiterate it.

The Quality Rose is the mark of England’s official, nationwide quality assessment scheme and is an independent reliable, impartial assessment of quality covering just about every type of place you might want to stay at or visit.

2011 is already shaping up to be an exciting season with many more offers and added value entertainment lined up. If you haven’t been to Ripon before now is the time to get yourself through or if you have been before then you’ll find this year even better than last.

This accolade has really boosted the staff at Ripon as their hard work has been recognised at a high level. The Managing Director, James Hutchinson, not only sees this as a real positive in regards to what we currently do but also as an opportunity waiting to be taken to continue to grow as a race company. The assessment can further our desire to increase on customer satisfaction and within each category we can set goals to improve.

Yorkshire in Bloom is a voluntary regional body organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, year on year it has grown in size and importance, creating lasting improvements to local environments. The competition is assessed by local judges on criteria developed by the RHS in consultation with the regions.

The grounds team at Ripon Races were up against thirteen other Yorkshire visitor attractions to come out joint top with the Gold Rose Award along with the Folk Museum. The results were announced at a ceremony at the Royal Armouries on 14th September. The racecourse is very quaint and beautifully vibrant due to the floral displays carefully tended by the course staff.

Clerk of the course James Hutchinson said, “Although we only race here during the flat season our groundsmen work tirelessly all year round to maintain the paddock enclosures to such a high standard. It is a credit to their exceptional work that we have been awarded this Gold Rose Award from Yorkshire in Bloom and we hope it encourages more visitors to discover the pleasure of racing at Ripon.”

Livius Events based at the racecourse, responsible for staging corporate hospitality and private functions at the course all year round benefit from the immaculate upkeep of the flower beds and lawns. Director of Livius Events Andrew Wells is delighted with the recent success and says that his customers appreciate the work that goes into the gardens.

This year’s Best Dressed Lady at Ripon Race’s annual Ladies Day event has gone on to scoop the top prize at the Best Dressed Lady Grand Finale this week.

Organised by Go Racing in Yorkshire, the finale at Doncaster featured the winners from each of this year’s Best Dressed Lady competitions as racecourses across the county.

Liz Akroyd had attracted the attention of the panel of judges at Ripon’s Ladies Day on one of the best days of summer back in June, looking perfect in her oyster pastel outfit. Liz won £500 in gift vouchers to use in the Huddersfield fashion boutique ‘The House of Elliot’ on the day. At the Grand Finale she furthered this success by winning a luxury Pampering Pyjama Party for six in a private apartment at the award-winning Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel in Doncaster, followed the next morning by a ‘Ladies Indulgence’ package in the Therapie Health and Wellness Centre.

James Hutchinson of Ripon explains “We’re delighted that our panel had an eye for a top winner in selecting Liz Akroyd- there were some magnificent outfits at Ripon this year and it was a tough choice, but obviously the right one! We’re delighted that Liz joined us to share the magic of Ladies Day at Ripon and congratulate her on going on to win the big prize at the end of the season Ladies Day Grand Finale. Go Racing in Yorkshire’s overall Ladies Day competition have done a fine job in promoting the thrill of racing to the wider public and attracting new racegoers who are coming dressed in such wonderful style to these colourful summer events.”

Staff at Ripon Races are celebrating as we’ve scooped Best Small Racecourse in the North in the sport’s most prestigious awards. Organised by the Racegoers Club, the annual awards are the racing industry’s most keenly contested accolades. With Racegoers Club members going racing an average of 31 times per year, no one could be better qualified to pass judgement or more critical of standards.

Ripon Races last won the award in 2003 and before that, in 1996. This year’s award follow substantial work at the course to improve the facilities, including complete refurbishment of the Champagne Bar, the Wakeman Bar and the Club Stand amenities. Clearly a winner with the punters, Clerk of the Course, James Hutchinson believes the changes have been a factor in winning the award again this year. “We’re delighted to have been voted Best Small Racecourse in the North. It is a tremendous result and deserved reward for the consistent hard work put in by all our staff in striving to provide the most enjoyable racing environment.”

The board here at Ripon Races are committed to continuing investment to ensure the good quality racing continues and look forward to the start of the 2010 season on Thursday 15th April. Annual membership badges are now available offering access to the Club enclosure for all 15 race days during 2010, plus free admission to 20 exchange day meetings at other racecourses throughout the country and to 11 of the best Yorkshire County Cricket fixtures.

All year round Ripon Racecourse facilities are now used on non-race days to host a variety of corporate and private events organised by Livius Events who are based at the course.