Market Rasen Racecourse, the county’s only horse racing venue, has seen attendances drop by the thousands compared to their last full race year.
The Lincolnshire course has had just over 16,000 less people in attendance this year compared to their attendance figures in 2019 and losing an average of 600 people at each of its 15 race meetings in 2022.
According to the Office for National Statistics UK, 54% of people are now spending less on non-essentials such as sport and leisure.
This has impacted all UK race courses, according to the Racecourse Association.
Joe Rendall, Communications Lead at Market Rasen Racecourse, states that: “We maintain a good race value at our race days and we are thankful to the racegoers who come to our events.”
Market Rasen Racecourse charges fees from £10.80 up to £85 for a premier restaurant experience.
Paul Swain, Communications Manager for the Racecourse Association, said: “We deeply empathise with the British public over how the cost of living has increased and how this must place people in difficult positions, considering food, energy bills and fuel are more expensive than ever.
“It is no surprise with the backdrop that attendances to British racecourses have fallen this year but this is a trend felt by many.”
Market Rasen Racecourse found its permanent home on Willingham Road in 1924 and has hosted various racing and local events there for almost a century.
Crowd numbers at York Racecourse, Chester Racecourse and Newmarket Racecourse were down significantly with racecourses stating the fall is the rise in the cost of living.
The Chester May festival saw a crowd total of 34,900 people which is down considerably from 53,414 in 2019.
Chester racecourse has responded to the cost-of-living crisis by freezing or reducing their prices as well as offering a £10 ticket for limited access to the open course and the stands.
According to the HBLB, Horserace Betting Levy Board, racecourse attendance across the country is down by just over three million in 2021 compared to 2019.
This is despite there only being just eight less racing fixtures across the whole of 2021.
