Perth Racecourse has appointed a chief executive for the first time in its 400-year history.
Hazel Peplinski took up the new position on New Year’s Day and has wasted no time in laying plans for the summer jump season.
Hailing from a horseracing background her father John Dudgeon was a permit-holder trainer and her brother Sandy a successful amateur jockey Ms Peplinski 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 racecourses.
Yesterday, she said the move to appoint a chief executive rather a new general manager reflects “just how far” Perth Racecourse has come in the last 10 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,” she said.
“With annual turnover now in excess of £2.5 million, it’s an opportune time to raise the bar.”
Ms Peplinski said she has grabbed the “unique opportunity” to work at Perth Racecourse “with both hands”.
She added: “2016 is turning into a big year for me personally and could well be a landmark year in the history of Perth Racecourse.
“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.
“The team here is well under way 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 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.”