A RACECOURSE has bucked the economic trend to record the UK’s second highest percentage increase at the turnstiles.

Sedgefield racecourse saw a total of 23,001 punters through the gates last year, a 16 per cent rise on the previous year.

Only Ayr, in Scotland, recorded a higher percentage increase, 21 per cent, but several other courses in the region fared well.

Jill Williamson, Sedgefield’s general manager, said part of the success was down to the Racing for Change scheme offering free admission to a race meeting.

But she said that, after the course lost one of its biggest and most popular fixtures in 2009, on Boxing Day, the figures were encouraging.

Mrs Williamson said: “The Racing for Change event was significant and we are hoping that will run again this year.

“Although it was a free event, it was fantastic to see a lot of new faces which we are hoping we will see again.

“Although we lost Boxing Day, we gained an extra fixture in August, ladies’ day, which I think could become one of the most popular days of the season.

“Themed racing days have been very successful for us and we hope that will continue.”

York saw an 11 per cent increase at the gates, while Ripon reported a nine per cent increase.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Wetherby saw a two per cent reduction in attendance, while Catterick saw a quarter per cent loss.

Newcastle was up one per cent, but both Redcar and Hexham saw their attendance figures drop nine per cent.

But there was an increase in the number of punters heading to Thirsk, which saw a total crowd figure of 57,507 people, an increase of four per cent on 2009.

A Thirsk racecourse spokesman said: “Crowds at the racecourse increased last season, which was very pleasing for us.

“We are hoping that this year the trend continues and we get even more people through the gates.”