Horse racing as an event was first recorded in 1174 when it is believed that races took place in the London suburb Smithfield during the annual St Bartholomew’s horse fair. But it was not until June 3rd 1931 that it was televised, with the Epsom Derby hitting the screens as Cameronian won the race.
As racing subsequently gained more airtime the opportunities increased for businesses to get involved. In 1982, Lynn Wall spotted a gap in the market for selling advertising hoardings at racecourses which got nationwide coverage at televised meetings. And so, Racecourse Televised Advertising (RTA) was born.
Lynn, with a background in Sales & Marketing, had spent many years working for Ladbrokes and Aintree Racecourse developing an intimate understanding of the industry and used this knowledge to broker opportunities at the racecourse for brands.
Initially, RTA would sell the perimeter advertising, produce the hoardings and install them. This one-stop-shop service evolved to advising sponsors on the best exposure and then producing their branding. The business grew considerably and is now one of the UK’s leading suppliers of event sponsorship signage, branding and outdoor advertising to major venues across the UK. From these beginnings it is not just RTA that has grown but an industry as well.
Providing a ‘can do’ philosophy to our early customers resulted in many of them introducing us to other sectors where we are able to use our planning, design, production and logistics skills. These include:
- conferences and ceremonies
- Sporting events and venues
- Exhibitions and trade events
- Schools and garden centres
Over the years, the events we have dressed and branded make an impressive portfolio, including:
- Euro 96
- Stella Artois Championships
- Chelsea Flower Show
- Henley Regatta
- World Darts Championships
- The Red Bull Air Race
- Heineken Rugby
Our major Horse Racing meetings include:
- Royal Ascot
- The Goodwood Festival
- Cheltenham Festival
- The Epsom Derby
- The Grand National
- British Champions Day
We also do many smaller events and as a team will adapt to meet the needs of our clients whatever the size of the event.
Recognising the need for logistical flexibility, our units in Uxbridge and Liverpool are perfect for RTA to provide a truly Nationwide service.
The growth in our facilities allows us to provide a one stop shop to our clients from producing the initial artwork through to production of all branding and signage collateral, installation and removal.
With over forty years’ experience under our belts, the only real question is ‘what will the next forty years bring?’
