Kate Hills Is New Head of Marketing at Arena Leisure
Arena Leisure has promoted Kate Hills to Head of Marketing and Public Relations for the racing division within the group.
Ted Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for Arena's Racecourses said: 'For the past fifteen months Kate's role has been the Sales and Marketing Manager for Lingfield Park and Folkestone Racecourses and has done a great job. I'm delighted to be able to announce this promotion and think that Kate has a great future within Arena Leisure and the racing industry'.
Career Profile:
Kate has a wealth of experience in marketing, racing and publicity joining Arena as marketing manager at Lingfield and Folkestone racecourses from Plumpton racecourse where she held a similar role. Her background includes 3 years at the BBC mainly as PA to the Head of Corporate Communications in the press and publicity office - a fabulous insight into how the media works, and great introduction to TV and radio production.
Other posts have included promotions and publicity executive for Mecca Leisure, various public relations and journalistic assignments, including a brief spell with The Racing Channel, and events organiser and manager for Andrew Reid's equine & law businesses.
Kate grew up in a family where horses and racing came first. She has seen racing from just about every angle and still believes it is one of the most exciting and colourful sports. She has held an amateur riders license for the past 20 years, with the exception of 1996 when, following a bad fall where she broke her back, Kate proved her determination to continue riding and was subsequently granted a flat license. Unfortunately, an extremely
busy work schedule has recently made it difficult to continue race riding.
Riding achievements include the Point to Point South East Ladies Championship in 1990 and 1991, runner up in 1992 and equal third in the Daily Telegraph National Championship with a total of 35 winners and numerous placed rides. Kate is proud to have ridden at most of the top courses over jumps and on the flat including Cheltenham, Sandown, Kempton, Newbury, Doncaster, Huntingdon, Windsor, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Folkestone. Best horse - Prince Zeus - whom Kate rode to victory 15 times
in open point-to points.
During the past fifteen months Kate has put in a tremendous effort marketing Arena's two most southern courses. She said :
'It had been a very interesting & positive 15 months.. . . . . .
'The polytrack has been one of the most exciting and successful developments in racing for many years and Lingfield Park has led the way into a new era of racing - it is fantastic to see such quality horses and maximum fields so regularly at the Surrey course. The profile of all weather racing has improved beyond all recognition and it consistently and reliably provides great excitement for both seasoned, and first time race-goers.
'Folkestone racecourse has turned a corner over the last year with a significant increase in crowd figures, and new interest and support from local companies. It is soon to begin a thorough refurbishment to modernise areas and improve facilities.'
Looking ahead -
Kate said: 'In my opinion, the sport has lacked vision in recent years and has only recently begun to see just what is required to compete successfully in the leisure industry. We've got to listen to what our customers want, enhance the appeal to a younger and wider audience and
realise that they can only come racing when they have leisure time.
'One of the reasons I came to Arena is because I see them as a young forward thinking company that has been prepared to try and lead the industry forward and I wanted to be part of that. We have a variety of courses and I see them as completely individual with their own distinct
appeal. It's a new position and obviously a huge challenge but I am very much looking forward to making a success of it.'
For more details contact:
Kate Hills, Lingfield Park Racecourse
(t)+44 1342 831702
(e)khills@lingfieldpark.co.uk
Ted Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for Arena's Racecourses said: 'For the past fifteen months Kate's role has been the Sales and Marketing Manager for Lingfield Park and Folkestone Racecourses and has done a great job. I'm delighted to be able to announce this promotion and think that Kate has a great future within Arena Leisure and the racing industry'.
Career Profile:
Kate has a wealth of experience in marketing, racing and publicity joining Arena as marketing manager at Lingfield and Folkestone racecourses from Plumpton racecourse where she held a similar role. Her background includes 3 years at the BBC mainly as PA to the Head of Corporate Communications in the press and publicity office - a fabulous insight into how the media works, and great introduction to TV and radio production.
Other posts have included promotions and publicity executive for Mecca Leisure, various public relations and journalistic assignments, including a brief spell with The Racing Channel, and events organiser and manager for Andrew Reid's equine & law businesses.
Kate grew up in a family where horses and racing came first. She has seen racing from just about every angle and still believes it is one of the most exciting and colourful sports. She has held an amateur riders license for the past 20 years, with the exception of 1996 when, following a bad fall where she broke her back, Kate proved her determination to continue riding and was subsequently granted a flat license. Unfortunately, an extremely
busy work schedule has recently made it difficult to continue race riding.
Riding achievements include the Point to Point South East Ladies Championship in 1990 and 1991, runner up in 1992 and equal third in the Daily Telegraph National Championship with a total of 35 winners and numerous placed rides. Kate is proud to have ridden at most of the top courses over jumps and on the flat including Cheltenham, Sandown, Kempton, Newbury, Doncaster, Huntingdon, Windsor, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Folkestone. Best horse - Prince Zeus - whom Kate rode to victory 15 times
in open point-to points.
During the past fifteen months Kate has put in a tremendous effort marketing Arena's two most southern courses. She said :
'It had been a very interesting & positive 15 months.. . . . . .
'The polytrack has been one of the most exciting and successful developments in racing for many years and Lingfield Park has led the way into a new era of racing - it is fantastic to see such quality horses and maximum fields so regularly at the Surrey course. The profile of all weather racing has improved beyond all recognition and it consistently and reliably provides great excitement for both seasoned, and first time race-goers.
'Folkestone racecourse has turned a corner over the last year with a significant increase in crowd figures, and new interest and support from local companies. It is soon to begin a thorough refurbishment to modernise areas and improve facilities.'
Looking ahead -
Kate said: 'In my opinion, the sport has lacked vision in recent years and has only recently begun to see just what is required to compete successfully in the leisure industry. We've got to listen to what our customers want, enhance the appeal to a younger and wider audience and
realise that they can only come racing when they have leisure time.
'One of the reasons I came to Arena is because I see them as a young forward thinking company that has been prepared to try and lead the industry forward and I wanted to be part of that. We have a variety of courses and I see them as completely individual with their own distinct
appeal. It's a new position and obviously a huge challenge but I am very much looking forward to making a success of it.'
For more details contact:
Kate Hills, Lingfield Park Racecourse
(t)+44 1342 831702
(e)khills@lingfieldpark.co.uk