The Big Interview – Edward Gillespie

The Cheltenham Festival remains one of the biggest draws in the horse racing calendar but Edward Gillespie, managing director of the racecourse, explains to Sportindustry.biz about his plans for future expansion…

Profile

Edward Gillespie, managing director, Cheltenham Racecourse

Edward Gillespie (53) graduated from the University of York with a degree in Politics and joined United Racecourses, owners of Epsom, Kempton Park and Sandown Park racecourses, as a Trainee Manager in 1974.

He was appointed as Racecourse Manager at both Kempton Park and Sandown Park later that year and became part of the team which managed the Derby. In 1980 he moved to Cheltenham as General Manager, a role that included Warwick Racecourse and was subsequently appointed to the Board at both courses.

In 1994 he was appointed Managing Director of United Racecourses (Epsom, Kempton Park and Sandown Park), continuing as Managing Director at Cheltenham. He withdrew from his director’s role at United Racecourses after a five year tenure.