Doncaster Racecourse racing ahead

RACECOURSE operator Arena Leisure today said it saw a bright future for Doncaster Racecourse, which reopened last year.

Arena operates seven racecourses in the UK, including Doncaster.

Doncaster staged the St Leger Festival in September in 2007 following an extensive redevelopment programme. Arena said attendances at the event had been higher than expected.

But it said additional revenues generated through spectators had been matched by one-off opening costs that had been greater than expected.

The operator also said it was excited about plans for a proposed 120-bedroom hotel at the site, as well as a 34 unit residential development.

Arena said it expected pre-tax profit for the year to December 31 to be around £6m.

It said the figure would be hit by a small loss at its catering business, which was launched at six of its racecourses last March, because of the start-up costs at Doncaster.