RUTH Morrison will succeed Richard Lyttle as general manager of Downpatrick Racecourse in the new year.

After 13 years in the role, Lyttle is retiring from the position. Morrison has been his assistant for the past six years.

During his tenure, Lyttle has overseen major upgrades of facilities at Downpatrick for owners, racegoers and stable staff, including implementing very successful sales and marketing initiatives to attract and increase new racegoers to the racecourse.

Under his management, the track won the Racecourse Award at the 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin.

Lyttle will continue to work for Downpatrick in a consultancy role to oversee several key projects.

Peter Stewart, Downpatrick chairman, commented: “Downpatrick Racecourse has been most fortunate to have had Richard at the helm for the last 13 years. During that time, he has improved facilities dramatically and he has also improved the raceday experience significantly.

“Furthermore, he appreciated what stable staff, jockeys, owners, sponsors, and officials bring to racing, and went to great lengths to make their day enjoyable. Richard always carried out his duties with enthusiasm, integrity, and good grace.

“We are delighted that Ruth is stepping up as general manager and I am very confident that she will carry on in the new role with similar drive, professionalism and expertise.”

Richard Lyttle said: “It has been a great pleasure to have worked at Downpatrick Racecourse. Our chairman and directors have been incredibly supportive of our many aspirations. They understood what we were trying to achieve and empowered us to move forward with our ideas.

“I am delighted that Ruth will take over as manager in January and I am very confident that she will continue our quest to constantly improve. She is very much a people’s person and will add her own stamp to bring the racecourse to the next level.

“I am looking forward to my consultancy role over the next few years to support Ruth on the next stage of Downpatrick’s journey.”

Morrison added: “I am honoured and really excited to take on the general manager role at Downpatrick Racecourse in the new year. Richard has been a fantastic mentor and has done a wonderful job here over the last 13 years and I look forward to building on that.

“Richard and I have always worked very well together, and I am fortunate that I will still have his input in his new consultancy role.”