Racing to School

Jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore has been named as the international supporter of the racing charity Racing to School, the racing charity announced on Wednesday. A winner of both the Grand National and Gold Cup, Blackmore worked with the team again this year at Cheltenham's Festival Monday, a community initiative started in 2023 which engages pupils from local primary schools for a very special activity on the eve of the Festival. Blackmore, who also supports the Equestrian Centre Charity Festina Lente and Cancer Fund for Children, said, "Racing to School do...

Approximately 40 students from Bottisham Village College attended a Racing to School event at The National Stud and Newmarket's July Course earlier this month. The Year 7 group were able to view stallions Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and Stradivarius (Ire) at the stud, with several math-based activities held at the July Course. This visit followed on from the successful mock interviews Careers Event led by the charity back in February. The day was well supported by the horseracing industry with volunteer interviewers from both Newmarket racecourses offering advice and feedback...

A group of over 300 local primary schoolchildren was welcomed to Newmarket's July Racecourse last week for the finale of the popular Under Starter's Orders programme. The initiative, started in 2015, is an integral part of Racing to School's educational programme and is made possible through the generous support of Newmarket Racecourses, Jockey Club Estates and Godolphin. Racing to School's programme manager Ollie McPhail said, "The raceday is a fantastic finale to the three-part programme local schools participate in and has given pupils the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained...

A total of 55 five and six-year students from Brisley CofE Primary Academy and Rudham CofE Primary Academy both visited the Royal Studs last week, the charity Racing to School announced on Wednesday. The visit included a lecture by the Royal Studs' stud manager David Somers and his team covering the history of the stud, the thoroughbred breeding season, and the daily routines to provide the best possible care for each horse. A visit with the Royal Studs' veterinarian Camilla Scott, the farrier Dermot Barry and many of the equine...

Racing to School and the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust have renewed their partnership for an additional two years that will allow the latter to continue assisting young people in hard-to-reach areas, the duo announced on Wednesday. Already in its third year, the partnership has assisted over 600 young people from rural, inner city and deprived areas in 2023. The aim is to expose more young people to free, interactive, and healthy outdoor educational events for schools, staged at a variety of racing venues through the Racing to School experience. John...

Racing Together, the industry's community engagement partnership, will host the 2024 community day on Wednesday, May 8 to coincide with the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse, the organisation announced on Monday via press release. British horseracing's national day of employee volunteering, the effort is supported by various charity and commercial partners with a focus on horseracing and bloodstock groups to give back as a team to their communities. Activities range from staff volunteering at local care homes to renovating stables, and picking up litter or collecting for local food...

The third annual National Racehorse Week, from Sept. 9-17 in the UK, has been deemed a success after a record number of open days and community events, Great British Racing (GBR), who funds the initiative alongside the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), announced on Tuesday. Over 15,000 free places were made available across the seven days across the country for the public to come and experience a day in the life of a racehorse. From training facilities and studs, to aftercare and rehoming centres, 209 different events...

Racing to School has had its accreditation by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) extended for a further two years, the organisation announced Monday. The charity offers young people a high-quality outdoor learning experience and introduces many participants to horse racing for the first time by bringing the curriculum to life using racing's unique venues. John Blake, Chief Executive of Racing to School said, "To be awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge once again is testament to our team's efforts to achieve high quality interventions...

Andrea O'Keeffe and Camilla Dutton have joined the Racing to School's board as independent trustees, effective Sept. 1. A winner of the Godolphin Stable Staff Award's Community Award, O'Keeffe has spent over three decades working in racing, and she also has a strong background in the education sector. O'Keeffe is marred to trainer Jed O'Keeffe and is based in Middleham. "I am delighted to have been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Racing to School and look forward to supporting the fantastic work of this charity to inspire and...

There will be a special interactive display on The Hill at Epsom Downs in recognition of The Queen's passion for the Thoroughbred during the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Cazoo Oaks and Cazoo Derby Days, June 3-4. Billed the Racing Showcase, the display will highlight the care that is shown for racehorses throughout their lives, how the racing industry is engaging and inspiring young people to look at racing as a career, the provisions the industry makes for its people and how racing is looking to reach out to communities...

The first National Racehorse Week, a celebration of racehorses throughout the UK, will be held from Sept. 12-19. The aim is to highlight the levels of care provided by trainers and grooms and tout the equine athletes who make the sport possible. Henry Cecil Open Weekend in Newmarket and the ARC Malton Open Day start the week, with the Epsom and Middleham Open Days held on the second weekend. Trainers are encouraged nationwide to open their yards to the public. There will also be a programme of virtual events, as...

Racing to School, in conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority, has unveiled a new Racing2Learn module (click here), which focuses on promoting safe and responsible gambling. The resource also addresses young people's relationship with gambling and its links with gaming. The free on-line course, which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, aims to equip learners with knowledge and understanding of the BHA's rules on gambling for licensed individuals, in addition to an overview of problem gambling and its associated harms. Participants are also provided with a list of resources available...