BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE

I am an accomplished and widely respected Clerk of the Course with over 20 years of experience in producing and presenting top class turf and all weather surfaces, managing operations, people and budgets.

My Services

• Raceday Clerk of Course

• Consult on Racing Surfaces

• Race Planning

• Industry Planning & Working Groups

• Liaison with Horsemens Group (Owners, Trainer, Jockeys and BHA Officials)

• Estate Management

As Clerk of the Course at Newcastle Racecourse I was responsible for running a busy turf national hunt and all weather fixture list (over 61 scheduled meetings per annum) that hosts the three day Northumberland Plate Festival, Good Friday AW card, Grade 1 ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle and Eider Chase race days.

The role involved responsibility for race planning and management of over £2m in prize money. I regularly analysed data and amended race conditions when required to enhance program and betting turnover.

Over the years I have built strong relations with key industry contacts while working with Hexham & Newcastle Racecourse: The Horsesmens Group and BHA both professionally and personally. I am a key contact and representative for all racing media enquiries and conducted regular interviews with Sky Sports Racing At The Races/ITV and liaise with industry press. Frequent use of my personal social media account is used for updating race day information, weather and going conditions to over 6,000 followers (@JRFArmstrong)

I was in charge of employing, developing and training a skilled and competent team including ground staff, stable and hostel managers, medical, veterinary and other key personnel to deliver successful and compliant race days as per BHA general instructions.

I supported the executive team with managing the 812 acre estate with it’s utility provision and also collaborate with leaseholders (Nature Reserve and Golfcourse). I worked in conjunction with the venue sales team for other operational and event usage of the site.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Horse racing was the first sport to return to public view after lockdown in 2020 and Newcastle was the first UK racecourse to return to racing under new ‘behind closed doors’ protocols.

• Implemented welfare improvements to the high profile Eider Chase for 2020.

• Key facilitator in creation and delivery of the inaugural ‘Team Approach to Human and Equine Entrapment’ training day. Involving British Association of Rescue Trauma Care Association, vets, medics and ground staff from around the region.

• Put into effect pre-race day briefing involving both medical and veterinary teams.

• 2016 helped deliver the UK’s newest floodlit all weather race course whilst ensuring national hunt racing continued during installation.

• Implemented welfare improvements to the high profile Eider Chase for 2020.

• Key facilitator in creation and delivery of the inaugural ‘Team Approach to Human and Equine Entrapment’ training day. Involving British Association of Rescue Trauma Care Association, vets, medics and ground staff from around the region.

• 2016 helped deliver the UK’s newest floodlit all weather race course whilst ensuring national hunt racing continued during installation.

• Under my management the reputation of the surfaces at both Newcastle and Hexham have greatly improved in the eyes of the Horsemen and have seen field size increases.

• Successful visits to Ireland to recruit top class runners for ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle.

• Identified and project managed multiple drainage schemes and installation of new irrigation main to better manage the turf courses.

• Contributed to a weekly racing column for a local newspaper (Newcastle Journal) 2013-2016.

TESTIMONIAL

“I’ve known James for a number of years, he’s the ultimate professional. Good people person and he understands what peoples needs are from his time at Newcastle Racecourse.”

-Oisin Murphy, Newcastle Racecourse.