Wolverhampton Racecourse operator Arena Leisure today said the number of punters attending additional meetings laid on this year had fallen short of expectations.
The firm, whose rosta of courses also includes Doncaster, Royal Windsor and Lingfield Park, has put on nearly a third more races in 2008, mainly in response to the evening opening of betting shops.
But chairman Raymond Mould said in a statement released before today’s annual general meeting: “Attendances at these fixtures have not been as strong as we would have hoped.”
Arena has staged a total of 139 fixtures so far this year, up from 106 the previous year. Total course attendance was around 120,000 so far this year, Mr Mould said, but Arena said the increase from 80,000 was mainly due to the reopening of Doncaster – the home of the St Leger – in September.
The firm also warned that the expansion in the number of races had not been matched by the number of horses, leading to reduced income from bookmakers.
Mr Mould said: “Current trading means that we are behind market expectations, although we are still expecting to trade ahead of last year.” Arena shares were down 10 per cent as a result.
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