A record 75-plus employee teams from across racing volunteered in their local communities, volunteering 700 hours for over 40 charities, making it a record year for the May 25 Racing Together Community Day.
A wide range of racing organisations signed up for the fifth Racing Together Community Day, engaging with the communities in which they operate in a number of ways. One specific growth area was among the training yards–11 volunteered this year. The team at Kubler Racing delivered homemade cakes to the elderly in Lambourn while staff at Susan Corbett's volunteered at their local care home; Fergal O'Brien's colleagues supported Cotswold Riding for the Disabled.
Many participants focused on food poverty, with big food bank collections taking place in racing hubs. The Racing Centre in Newmarket organized drop off points, supported by Michelle Fernandes, Lycett's Insurance, Dylan Cunha Racing, Simon Pearce Racing and Gay Kelleway. Racing Welfare staff volunteered at regional food banks, including Lambourn Junction, supported by Ed Walker Racing and the Injured Jockeys Fund. This year, 27 British racecourses (including the Racecourse Association) supported the initiative through litter picks, local community-tidying schemes, and helping the needs of local causes and collecting items for riding schools. First-time supporters of the day included the Tote Group, Weatherbys, Goffs, Kingsclere training yard and a range of other charities and studs.
John Blake, Chief Executive of Racing Together, said: “It's no surprise that food banks have been a focus for many given the current crisis and racing's efforts will have a direct and immediate benefit to families needing help nationwide.
“Community Day is now well established within the calendar but is only a snapshot of the work that racing people do year-round on a voluntary basis, of which the industry should be very proud.
“We would like to thank the many teams who played a part in the day and the Horserace Betting Levy Board for supporting our work.”
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