Tony McCoy
AINTREE Racecourse last night said ticket sales for next month’s Grand National are 20% up on last year – helped by winner Tony McCoy being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Racecourse managing director Julian Thick said he was expecting more than 150,000 racegoers at the three-day meeting, which concludes with the John Smith’s- sponsored Grand National on Saturday, April 9.
McCoy won last year’s Grand National on his 15th attempt – and then in December won the BBC’s prestigious title for the first time.
Mr Thick believes McCoy’s success has encouraged more sports fans to buy Grand National tickets.
He said: “Saturday sales are well ahead. Demand for Friday is high as well. From our perspective, it is a very good story.
“I have no doubt we were significantly helped by the publicity surrounding AP McCoy and his Sports Personality of the Year win.”
Mr Thick said corporate hospitality sales, which were hit by the recession, were also bouncing back.
