First chief executive appointed at award-winning Perth Racecourse

Award-winning visitor attraction Perth Racecourse has appointed a chief executive for the first time in its 400 year history.

Hazel Peplinski took up the new position on January 1, 2016 and has wasted no time in laying plans for the summer jump season at the UK’s most northerly course.

Hailing from a horseracing background – her father John Dudgeon was a permit-holder trainer and her brother Sandy a successful amateur jockey – Hazel has built an enviable reputation in Scottish racing holding positions that include Chief Executive, Director, Racing Manager and Clerk of the Course at Hamilton Park, as well as further Clerking roles at both Kelso and Ayr racecourse. Earlier in her career Hazel was a Public Relations Officer for the Racecourse Association (RCA) and obtained Event Management experience in the golf and tennis arenas.

Hazel commented, “The decision to appoint a Chief Executive rather a new General Manager reflects just how far Perth Racecourse has come in the last ten years.

In what has been a difficult time for the industry, Perth has consistently bucked trends to show a solid increase in both visitor numbers and fixtures. With annual turnover now in excess of £2.5million it is an opportune time to raise the bar.

"I was hugely honoured to be approached by the committee and have grabbed this unique opportunity with both hands. Having been brought up in a large National Hunt racing family, I do feel as though I’m coming home and will be proud to welcome life-long industry friends and business contacts to Perth Racecourse.”

Mrs Peplinski’s new position will see her lead the well-established racecourse team into a new era, providing them with strong direction and the vision to maximise the full potential of the venue’s excellent location and newly improved facilities. An immediate objective is to increase both grandstand crowds and the hospitality bookings with a marketing strategy that includes working closely with Perth City and the tourism industry so that visitors are targeted from not just across Scotland but also North of England and Ireland.

“The team here is well underway with its planning for the 2016 season and so I have simply immersed myself into learning how Perth Racecourse operates. Indeed, much of my first season shall be spent watching and listening as I believe the key to defining our future strategy is to first and foremost fully understand the business, ensuring we make full use of the excellent skills and experience we already have.

I am grateful for the warm welcome I have been shown by everyone and I am finding the racecourse is held in high-esteem by the local business community, which is extremely heartening. Coupled with strong attendances and such tremendous goodwill within the industry, the platform for growth is most certainly here.”

Ms Peplinski continued, “I know that starting the season with the Three Day Perth Festival in April quickly followed by Ladies Day and the Perth Gold Cup Day will keep me extremely busy and with the opening of our new hostel facility and the much-heralded new stable complex, it’s looking like a hectic baptism in my first year! The legacy Sam Morshead has left after his long tenure is incredible.

2016 is turning into a big year for me personally and could well be a landmark year in the history of Perth racecourse. I have been presented with a wonderful opportunity and I intend to keep my hands firmly on these reins as I take the racecourse forward for the benefit of all.”

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