Racing Centre

Newmarket Racecourses and Jockey Club Racecourses are pleased to announce that Stephen Wallis has been appointed managing director of Newmarket Racecourses.

He will succeed Lisa Hancock who, as previously announced, is standing down in November in order to spend more time with her young family.

Stephen Wallis is currently managing director of Epsom Downs, where he has worked since 1994. He will work closely with Lisa Hancock in the final weeks of the current season to ensure a smooth handover, while also retaining an involvement with Epsom Downs in leading the search for the next sponsor of The Derby Festival.

Ric Hambro, chairman of Newmarket, said today: “I am delighted that Stephen has accepted the role of Newmarket’s managing director. Lisa will be a hard act to follow, but I am confident that the course will continue to flourish as Stephen builds on her considerable achievements.

“Stephen has overseen the revitalisation of The Derby to great effect and his experience, communication skills and rapport with all sectors of the racing industry will hold him in good stead in his new role.

“Newmarket is growing and evolving and, following the successful introduction of the new facilities on the July Course, together with our continued commitment to staging quality racing, there are many reasons to be excited about the future of the racecourse.” 

Stephen Wallis commented today: “I am very much looking forward to the challenge of succeeding Lisa at Newmarket. I have enjoyed my time at Epsom immensely and only an opportunity as exciting and inspiring as the role at Newmarket could have tempted me away.

He added: “I have been involved in 14 historic runnings of The Derby and I am very proud of what has been achieved in that period. Furthermore, the course is looking forward to an exciting future with the building of the new grandstand underway. 

“However, the role of managing director at Newmarket, the home of horseracing, represents the type of fresh challenge that I feel I am ready for.”

Christopher Spence, chairman of Epsom Downs, said: “Epsom is indebted to Stephen for all he has achieved with the course and we will be very sad to see him leave. His energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the job will make finding a worthy successor a challenging task.

“However, I am confident that the prospect of overseeing the running of The Derby and the opening of the new grandstand and facilities in 2009 will ensure that there is no shortage of quality candidates to replace Stephen.

“We are delighted that his skills and experience are being retained by Jockey Club Racecourses and we wish Stephen all the best in his new role.”

Andrew Coppel, chief executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Jockey Club Racecourses has a policy of promoting from within where appropriate and Stephen’s appointment to Newmarket underlines the quality of personnel we are able to call upon for such key roles.

“Lisa has been an outstanding managing director at Newmarket and a loyal servant to the group for 13 years. We are optimistic that we shall retain the benefit of her experience when she steps down from Newmarket at the end of this season.”

The process of identifying a new managing director for Epsom has begun and an announcement will be made in due course.

Notes for Editors:

1. Newmarket Racecourses is part of Jockey Club Racecourses, the largest racecourse group in the UK and responsible for the operation of a diverse portfolio of 14 tracks. Also included in the portfolio is Epsom Downs.

2. Jockey Club Racecourses hosts four of the five Flat Classics and 80 per cent of Grade 1 Jump races. The group stages many of the country’s most iconic races and events, including the Guineas Festival and Derby Festival, as well as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.

3. All profits generated by courses within the group are reinvested in the sport, primarily on upgrading facilities and prize money.

Any additional enquiries please contact:

John Maxse, Director of Communications,

Jockey Club Racecourses - 0207 189 3895 / 07785 243232

Distributed by Racenews