British Racecourses Confirm 2024 Annual Attendance Figures

Official figures submitted to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) by all British racecourses confirmed an annual total attendance of 4,799,730 racegoers in 2024.

This is marginally down on the 2023 figure of 4,833,944, however the total number of fixtures completed (1,410 from 1,425) means the average attendance has grown slightly by 0.4% to 3,404 from 3,392. Average attendances have gradually risen since 2022, with total attendances slightly decreasing. The fluctuation in fixtures completed is a driver in this trend, but also suggests a period of sustained consolidation in attendance figures.

The fourth quarter of the year represented a strong period for attendances, with 880,846 racegoers visiting a British racecourse. This was a 12.9% increase compared with the same period in 2023.

	Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Completed Fixtures	Abandonments
2024	4,799,730	3,404	1,410	77
2023	4,833,944	3,392	1,425	105
2022	4,838,401	3,346	1446	75

 

Notable Attendance Rises

Throughout 2024, multiple key fixtures enjoyed notable attendance boosts. Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle Day recorded its highest attendance since 2015 and Uttoxeter’s Midlands Grand National fixture saw a 15% increase.

June represented a particularly strong month as racegoers enjoyed some of the sport’s biggest racedays. 771,161 racegoers visited a British racecourse, an increase of 3.6% from 2023 despite ten fewer fixtures taking place. As part of this figure, both Royal Ascot and the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs saw increases to their recorded attendances from 2023 (2.7% and 4.6% respectively).

In addition, a number of other major summer festivals recorded strong attendance returns. Newmarket’s July Festival, Ascot’s King George Weekend, Ayr’s Gold Cup Festival and Doncaster’s St Leger Festival all saw marked increases in attendances year-on-year.

Further Analysis

Jump racing as a whole saw 1,840,245 racegoers attending 515 completed fixtures, providing an average figure of 3,575. In 2023, these figures were 1,861,419 and 3,525 from 528 completed fixtures, indicating a 1.1% decrease and 1.4% increase respectively.

2024’s flat racing crowd was 2,953,401 from 894 completed fixtures, with an average crowd of 3,304. Both figures are marginal decreases from 2023, when a total of 2,966,956 (-0.4% year-on-year) attended 896 completed fixtures, resulting in an average attendance figure of 3,311 (-0.2%).

Saturday continues to be the most popular day to attend a racing fixture - a total of 1,762,624 racegoers visited a British racecourse across 272 completed Saturday fixtures. Due to abandonments, this represents a 3.3% decrease from 2023, but maintains the average Saturday attendance of 6,480.

Q4 Review

In the final quarter of the year, 881,308 racegoers visited a British racecourse, an increase of over 100,000 year-on-year (780,176). This can in some part be explained by the more favourable weather which resulted in fewer abandonments (13 in 2024 compared with 59 in 2023), however the average attendance of 2,639 (up 3.1%) suggests an underlying positive trend in attendances during October, November and December.

Multiple racecourses have publicly spoken of the marked increase in attendance figures over the Festive period. Newbury reported a 48% increase at the Challow Novice Hurdle fixture (9,983 from 6,763) and Chepstow saw a 23.2% increase at the Welsh Grand National (8,506 from 6,900), whilst there were also uplifts at Kempton Park’s Christmas Festival, Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle fixture and Wetherby’s Boxing Day fixture. The Yorkshire showpiece provided Wetherby with its biggest crowd since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

	Q4 Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Completed Fixtures	Abandonments
2024	881,308	2,639	334	13
2023	780,176	2,556	304	59

 

David Armstrong, Chief Executive at the RCA, commented: “2024’s annual attendance figures demonstrate a year of consolidation which is particularly encouraging considering the sport is in the midst of undertaking significant measures to enhance the product on offer. Whilst the total attendance figure is a reduction from 2023, the average attendance per fixture has risen and has done so consistently since 2022.

“Given the wider economic difficulties impacting households across the country, and the increased amounts of on-demand domestic entertainment, these figures give us cause for optimism. Horseracing is unique amongst major sports in that we attract customers looking for elite sport and a fantastic social occasion; our racegoer data confirms we combine both the sports and leisure markets in sometimes polarising fashion.

“Whilst sports attendances across major events have been growing, it is not the case in the leisure market: for example, a recent report audited by KPMG suggests that 67% of British consumers are actively choosing to spend less on dining out, and the British cinema box office has decrease by 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels. These examples highlight the challenging environments which racecourses must compete within to secure customers.

“I am pleased to see many of our major events continuing to resonate with the British public. Particularly positive was the 2024 Festive period which saw marked increases to attendance across a number of key fixtures across the country.  A great day out at the races is engrained into the fabric of many communities across the country at Christmas; it is wonderful that millions of people continue to visit our racecourses and enjoy the world-class sport on offer.”