Southwell racecourse are set to start the first Twilight meeting next month, 29th January with brand new floodlights to offer a better scope of the evening’s races.
The lights however, offer a new story to the course that has recently had the capacity reduced on the grandstand. It doesn’t seem to bother Mark Clayton, Executive Director due to the regular meetings rarely getting above 500 in attendance.
He told this to the RacingPost and offers an astute attitude in Southwell’s approach to the safety in the installation of these new floodlights as well as the concerns that now gives the grandstand capacity at 3056.
"We have around a quarter of the poles up at the moment, most of which are in the straight. Work is ongoing but we are on schedule to have them up and running by Tuesday, January 29 which will be our first ever twilight meeting," he said.
The courses’ history and tradition brings with it a great character, it was one of the first courses with an AW track and now this offer of twilight racing brings a new potential audience.
In the past Kempton Park and Wolverhampton increased their Twilight racing fixtures this was in accordance with the Horserace Betting Levy Board to offer increased field sizes to help with the competitive aspects. Southwell may well be looking to do the same with the new racing under the lights whilst also helping attendances.