regional racecourses | the jockey club
feature | hunter chase
t h e j o c k e y c l u b r e i n v e s t s e v e r y p e n n y b a c k i n t o t h e s p o r t a n d a l s o s u p p o r t s t h r e e o t h e r n o n - r a c i n g c h a r i t i e s charities support for
HEAD OUT AFTER WORK
Why not bring a group of 10 of more to the Hunter Chase evening? It’s the perfect excuse for a post-work outing to start the weekend. Contact Groups On Track on 01483 825756 and check cheltenham.co.uk for post-racing party details
The Jockey Club supports Rainbow Trust Photo posed by model
T hey say charity begins at home. So as the largest stakeholder in British racing and with a commitment to reinvest every penny back into the sport, it’s no surprise that The Jockey Club supports racing staff throughout the racing industry in the UK. However, few may realise that as well as setting up its own charity, Racing Welfare, to support racing people,The Jockey Club is in partnership with three other non-racing charities. One of the charities, Box4Kids, is gifted the use of corporate hospitality boxes by The Jockey Club to allow seriously ill children to enjoy sporting and entertainment events. The Jockey Club also helps Rainbow Trust and Carers Trust to raise money. Kirstin McEvoy, sustainability and corporate social values manager, sits on The Jockey Club’s charity committee. She says: “In 2016 we agreed we needed a more co-ordinated and concentrated approach to the way we work with charities and a few selected charities were chosen. “Racing Welfare, as an integral part of The Jockey Club, remains a key beneficiary of the charitable efforts and Box4Kids also continues its association as a regular recipient of days out at the races for sick children. “But it was decided that The Jockey Club would select two further charity partners to work with for an initial two-year period. Rainbow Trust and Carers Trust were
chosen as national charities whomThe Jockey Club’s employees could empathise with on a personal level and get involved with locally. “To further encourage engagement, employees’ fundraising efforts for the partner charities are match-funded and volunteering can be undertaken during work time, both subject to limits and approval.”
services and relies on charitable giving to be able to continue its work. Rainbow Trust Rainbow Trust supports families who have a child aged up to 18 years old with a life- threatening or terminal illness and who are in need of bespoke support on a day-to-day basis. Family support workers provide a lifeline by supporting the whole family including parents, carers, the unwell child, brothers, sisters and grandparents. They bring support and help to families who desperately need it at home, in hospital and in the community. Carers Trust Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. It works to improve support, services and recognition for anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. With locally-based network partners, the charity supports carers in their homes through the provision of replacement care, and in the community with information, advice, emotional support, practical help, individually tailored support and group activities plus access to much-needed breaks. The Jockey Club holds a number of events throughout the year to support its partner charities. But to contribute now you can donate £5 by texting the word FIVE to 70099, with all proceeds split three ways between Racing Welfare, Rainbow Trust and Carers Trust.
DJ Greg James
with ease, ending up hanging on desperately from fast-finishing The Wealerdealer.There was considerably less doubt about the conclusion of the Brian Babbage Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase as favourite Are They Your Own was in total control by 26 lengths. Brodie Hampson, whose father Mark died the year before after a long battle with illness, secured another dream of a Cheltenham winner. “When I won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup for my dad, that was a big highlight.This would definitely be the second one,” she said. thanks big fella A NEW slot for Cheltenham’s traditional finale to the season brought about a record crowd for Hunter Chase Evening. More than 15,000 enjoyed the series of championship competitions for the point-to-pointing and amateur racing community, staged on a Friday for the first time, with DJ Greg James flying in after hosting his show on BBC Radio 1 to play a set in the Centaur. Following a thrilling afternoon of racing action, Greg took to the decks for a night of top tunes, with racegoers and party-lovers alike enjoying the after-party. First appearing at Cheltenham Racecourse for the 2016 Hunter Chase Evening, Greg said: “I love racing and Cheltenham in particular is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. I am r o u n d o f f t h e s e a s o n w i t h t h e h u n t e r c h a s e e v e n i n g a n d a pa r t y t o r e m e m b e r
@ Carers Trust Photo posed by models
Racing Welfare Racing Welfare offers professional guidance and support through a nationwide network of regional welfare officers to the unseen army of dedicated staff who work in the horse racing industry. Its work includes providing 150 quality homes for both the elderly and those entering racing and an award-winning 24/7 helpline. The charity supports those injured or disabled with retraining and counselling, the elderly through days out and activities as well as helping those entering the industry with life skill programmes. Racing Welfare has seen a huge increase in demand for its
excited to provide a party for those who were successful and help those who lost all their money to drown their sorrows.” Racegoers seemed to have a great time with jumps jockey Leanda Tickle tweeting @gregjames was awesome at Cheltenham last night! and Lewis Micham adding @gregjames been a pleasure! On the course the most valuable event was the new £25,000 Timico Mixed Open Gold Cup Final Hunters’ Chase, held over the same distance as the Gold Cup. It developed into a barnstorming finish as Barrel Of Laughs, who at one stage looked as if he was going to add to his third in the Foxhunter at The Festival
The concluding GX Landrover Open Hunters’ Chase saw not only the emergence of a new star in Full Throttle, who has risen right up the ranks for Wiltshire trainer Laura Thomas, but a farewell to an old friend. Pulled-up mid-race was defending champion Big Fella Thanks who, at 15, was only a couple of years younger than his jockey Noel George. Big Fella Thanks, fourth in the 2010 Grand National, was fine afterwards and George’s father Tom said: “He goes into a happy retirement now with us. He has been a legend.”
jump online book tickets at
cheltenham.co.uk or call 0344 579 3003
book hospitality And restaurants by calling 01242 537653
diary dates Hunter Chase Evening, May 4, 2018
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