Amy's reign has only just begun

Sep 15 2008 By Adam Courtney, Surrey Herald

SHE'S held the post for little more than a month, but Kempton Park managing director Amy Starkey is already clear in her aim: she wants to make the Sunbury track bigger and better.

Fierce ambition courses through Amy's veins. She arrived at Kempton from Cambridgeshire track Huntingdon, where three years ago, aged 24, she became the country's youngest-ever racecourse managing director.

Her ultimate aim is to be the boss at Aintree, home of the Grand National, but for now she wants to propel Kempton to even greater heights, aiming not only to increase its £10m a year turnover by adding to the number of annual racedays, but also by utilising its 400-acres to host music events, other sports and additional market days.

She said: "The potential here is huge. We have an enormous site and at the moment we only really use half of it.

"Its size and location means every eventuality is open to us and we will definitely be looking to diversify.

"I am going to work closely with residents and Spelthorne Council to look at ways in which we can make this place the centre of the community."

The track enhanced its already lofty status about two years ago when it laid down an all-weather surface, a move which enabled it to treble the number of fixtures.

Historically known for hosting Boxing Day's King George VI Steeplechase, Kempton was transported into a new era, with concerted marketing efforts attracting a new breed of clientele to compliment the traditional hardcore of regular punters.

Amy believes there is even more scope to further delve into the family and city worker markets. She said: "We have got such a big catchment area, so from a marketing point of view there's a lot of potential racegoers to attract.

"The great thing about racing is you don't necessarily have to watch the sport itself - there's always loads of other things going on.

"You can go for a picnic, have a meal in the restaurant or watch entertainment."

In the short-term, Amy is looking at putting on more themed events on race days, such as ladies' days.

Next year the course will host a 'Miss Kempton' competition.

Longer-term, Amy hopes to work with the council to look at ways of exploiting the expected sports rush associated with London 2012.

Plans to install tennis courts and five-a-side football pitches are possibilities.

She said: "Racing is our business and will always be our priority and one of the things we want to do is expand the number of fixtures further. But we can turn it into more of an all-round entertainment centre.

"That possibility is why I love the job. I love racing but I also love running a business because no two days are the same. I'm prepared to work hard to fulfill my aims."