Back On Course: The Return Of The Horse Race

Each spectator sport has its own unique spark – whether it’s the sonic atmosphere of a packed football stadium, the poised tension of a snooker hall, or the wacky outfits at the cricket. For horse race meetings, the magic lies in getting dressed up and revelling in the event.

Sadly, pandemic restrictions make this all but impossible. And for many, the opportunity to wander around and interact with the other race-goers is a deal breaker. But as 2021 grew in, the prospect of courses welcoming guests back slowly became a reality.

Below, we take a look at how racecourses are managing the return, and why working at them is such a great opportunity.

The path back to normality

Back in August 2020, the British Horseracing Authority announced a plan for recovery. The document laid out their intentions around ensuring safe racing and, of course, the eventual return of spectators. With such a heavy reliance on attendance income, the future of the sport was hanging in the balance. And constantly shifting coronavirus restrictions made the path back to normality harder to navigate. 

Successful pilot events were then held, and by December 2020, limited attendances finally returned subject to the COVID-19 tier system. But with a national new year lockdown around the corner, it was back to square one. 

Four months later, up to 4,000 spectators were allowed back on courses in England. And with all restrictions due to be removed from 21st June, it looked as if the iconic Chester Races could even return in its pre-COVID format. Sadly, ‘freedom day’ was pushed back to 19th July, resulting in the mass refunding of all tickets. To the dismay of many, a new ballot opened for a limited-attendance event with strict social distancing and movement rules in place. 

Nonetheless, to see public attendees enjoying the races again is a welcome sight. And as the UK prepares for the imminent lifting of all restrictions, the demand for racecourse staff is growing once again. 

Earning at the races

So, what makes working at a racecourse so special? Well, a rolling race schedule creates a constant wave of anticipation amongst the crowds. As you can imagine, all that excitement is thirsty and hungry work – and that’s where you come in.

We’ll train you up to pour drinks and serve food at some of the UK’s most exclusive horse race meetings. You’ll be working on the bustling bars and restaurants right in amongst the atmosphere, allowing you to soak up the spectacle while grafting away. 

We also have manager and supervisor opportunities available for those that relish in keeping a well-oiled machine running smoothly.

Why work with hap? 

We believe in giving ultimate flexibility to our candidates. So we enable you to pick a vacancy that appeals to you, join a great team of like-minded individuals, and collect your earnings within 10 days of your assignment. 

The same goes for your location. Don’t mind travelling? We provide staff transport to most of the events we support. Prefer to stay closer to home? We work all over the UK, so there’s a good chance you won’t have to go far to land that next exciting opportunity!

Getting involved is easy. Simply register with us today or browse our latest vacancies.

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