Tuesday 24th March 2015 – Jockey Club Racecourses, the UK’s leading racecourse group, today announced the appointment of Daniel Thompson as General Manager of Exeter Racecourse following a competitive recruitment process.

Set in the stunning Devon countryside, Exeter Racecourse is scheduled to stage 17 race meetings in 2015, including the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup in November, which has been contested by the likes of Best Mate, Kauto Star and Desert Orchid. The racecourse is also a popular venue for private events, including meetings, conferences, exhibitions, dinners, weddings and parties.

Previously, Daniel Thompson was Racing Sales Manager for Jockey Club Racecourses’ South West region and prior to that spent two successful years as part of the team at Exeter as its Racing Sales Manager. He is a graduate of Loughborough University with a degree in Information Management and Business Studies. Daniel Thompson has been Acting General Manager in recent months during a period of illness for the racecourse’s previous General Manager, Tim Darby.

In his new role Daniel Thompson will report to Ian Renton, who is responsible for the running of Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton Racecourses as South West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses.

Daniel Thompson, General Manager of Exeter Racecourse, said:

“Exeter is a great racecourse at the heart of the Exeter community and I feel privileged to have been appointed General Manager. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the track in my previous role and I’m looking forward to delivering great racing and exciting events with the rest of the team during 2015 and beyond. As a passionate racing fan, this is a dream job!”

Ian Renton, South West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said:

“Dan is an ambitious, determined and conscientious person who has a real passion for horseracing. As Exeter continues to go from strength to strength, I’m confident Dan will lead the team to more successes during 2015.”

Jeremy Colson, Chairman of Exeter Racecourse, said:

“I am delighted that Dan has been confirmed as our general manager following his excellent work stepping into cover this position for the last few months. From his previous time at Exeter he is already well respected by our race goers, local sponsors and conference clients and he will be a very positive influence in taking the racecourse forward.”

Notes to Editors

About Exeter Racecourse

Exeter Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2013: £158.7m), courses (15) including those at Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, attendances (2014: 1.8m), total prize money (2013: £41.6m), contribution to prize money (2014: £19.9m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom Downs; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British racing. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.

For further information please contact:

Lucy Johnson, PR Exeter racecourse, lucyjohnsonpr@googlemail.com +447866 497976 01548 831548