AS chief executive of a flat racecourse, Sally Iggulden’s calendar is about to get extremely busy.

With the first major event of the season on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4, the course is preparing to welcome racegoers after undergoing £650,000 worth of investment, which included the refurbishment of two new Premier Enclosure bars, featuring the addition of reclaimed seaside carousel horses.

The building work is phase one of a two-year project that will see the entire Premier Enclosure redesigned and refurbished by 2016. The project has been entirely worked on by Yorkshire-based tradesmen using Yorkshire-sourced products.

Miss Iggulden took over the reins as chief executive at Beverley Racecourse in 2000, having previously worked for the Racecourse Association based at Ascot Racecourse.

Educated at Wye College in Kent, Miss Iggulden is passionate and knowledgeable about the sport of horseracing, and acts in an advisory capacity on several committees within the industry.

In 2003, Miss Iggulden became one of the founders of Racing UK, which today is one of the major forces in media rights distribution in the world of racing. She also joined the board of Welcome to Yorkshire in 2014.


What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

“I would have loved to have been an architect. I have a real interest in the changing landscape of the country, and in how architecture over the years has influenced the cities and skyline all around us.

“I am not particularly creative, but I do have a great sensitivity for places and their surroundings. I have thoroughly enjoyed turning ideas into reality at the racecourse with some of our recent building projects, and to do that as a full-time job on a larger scale must be incredibly satisfying.”


Greatest achievement?

“Outside of my professional life, my biggest achievement would be winning the Horse Of The Year Show.

“I have always held a strong interest in equestrian competition, and have gathered lots of knowledge over the years in what constitutes a champion show horse.

“I love learning from others, and the horse world is a perfect place to learn from your peers. I was lucky enough to buy Oathill Take The Biscuit as a young horse and he fulfilled a lifetime ambition with many major wins for me, but culminating in Champion Show Hunter of the Year in 2011. I now have his niece, Oathill Absolute Power, who was supreme champion at the Great Yorkshire Show last summer – a wonderful day!”


Biggest mistake?

“I wish that we had engaged with a business coach sooner. We started working with one around two years ago and the whole team has benefited from the fresh and strategic thinking she has encouraged us to adopt. It enables us to really focus on our business and our customer needs.”


What makes you most angry?

“Poor manners and a lack of compassion. I was raised with old-fashioned values and it is instilled in me to help people. It is just the little things in life that can make a huge difference.”


What do you need to make life complete?

“Someone to help muck out the horses! To be honest, I’m very lucky to have a great life which is already pretty complete. When your work also doubles up as something that you enjoy, you can’t ask for much more.”


Why do you make a difference?

“This is one of the things we really nailed down with our business coach and helped us identify just what makes the racecourse so unique. People come racing to enjoy themselves, and knowing that you have helped to create a fabulous day out for them from which they will take away great memories is hugely rewarding.”

Epitaph

“She was a little odd, but in a nice way.”