Racing Welfare

A bumper crowd of 3,000 people turned out to celebrate the life of Keagan Kirkby at Wincanton Racecourse on Sunday, October 27. The Keagan Kirkby Raceday included a charity memorial race in his name, in addition to a seven-race card, and raised funds for Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF)--the two charities which supported Kirkby's friends, family and colleagues after he tragically died in a point-to-point accident in February. In total, the raceday has raised an estimated £116,000 which will be split equally between Racing Welfare and the...

Keith Haggins has been named the new Racing Welfare community engagement officer, the charity announced on Thursday. Haggins will focus on the thoroughbred stud and breeding sector to raise awareness of and increase access to the charity's services. He have almost 30 years of experience in the thoroughbred breeding industry, and managed Waddesdon Stud for the late Lady Rothschild. His role is part of a three-year project made possible by funding from the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. Already, progress has been made in the project's first year, with a survey...

Many well-known figures from across the racing industry are making their final preparations for the Racing Welfare Jurassic Coast Challenge, which takes place on Sunday, September 29. Sky Sports Racing presenters Josh Apiafi and Alex Hammond announced they were taking part in the challenge live on-air on Saturday. "You and I and 50 others from around the racing world are walking the Jurassic Coastal Challenge next Sunday in aid of Racing Welfare--a fantastic cause," said Apiafi. "We both started off working in a yard so it's great to be giving...

The Racing Welfare Jurassic Coast Challenge will be held on Sunday, Sept. 29, and the deadline to register is Friday, Aug. 9. The charity fundraiser features participants following a route along the South West Coast Path beginning at Durdle Door and finish in Swanage. The route covers 20 miles and 1,443 metres of ascent. Open to teams and individuals, this is a fully guided challenge from event partner Large Outdoors. Registration on the day of the event will open at 5:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to complete the trek by...

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...

The Great Racing Welfare Cycle Challenge raised £50,000 for the charity over the weekend, with 60 cyclists taking to their bikes for a 24-hour tag team challenge around Newmarket and surrounding areas. Starting from its base at Newmarket's Rowley Mile, the challenge involved 10 teams of four to eight people. The teams tackled 34-kilometre loops continuously from midday Saturday to midday Sunday, with two from each team on course at any one time. Overall, the cyclists completed a total of around 12,000 kilometres across the course of the challenge. The...

The Great Racing Welfare Cycle will take place in Newmarket and its environs from noon on Saturday, July 20 until noon the following day, charity Racing Welfare announced on Thursday. The Rowley Mile Racecourse will be the base for participating teams consisting of four to eight persons, who will continuously cycle over a 24-hour period completing laps of a planned 32km route around the town and surrounding villages. Afterward, there will be a BBQ and a celebration for all cyclists and their families. Earlier this week, a quiz was held...

The Henry Cecil Open Weekend committee announced on Wednesday that the 2024 event will support the newly-formed Newmarket Housing Trust as the main charity beneficiary. Racing Welfare, a long-standing charity partner, will continue to be supported by the Open Weekend which takes place this year on September 21-22. The event has adopted a revised format for 2024, with all Newmarket trainers now set to open their doors on a bi-annual basis, having been split into two groups. 24 yards will be open to the public this year, including John and...

Racing Welfare, the only charity that supports all of racing's people, including stud, stable and racecourse staff, is seeking someone with experience of the thoroughbred stud and breeding industry to lead a community engagement programme for the sector. The post of Community Engagement Officer at Racing Welfare will see the successful candidate working closely with the thoroughbred stud and breeding community to raise awareness of, and promote, Racing Welfare's wellbeing support services to the sector. More information about the role--which is a full-time position for a two-year fixed term--and details...

Nominations are now open for stable staff to ride in one of four charity races as part of Betfair Racing Staff Week (June 22-28), Racing Welfare announced on Friday. The four race dates are: Ayr Racecourse - Saturday 22nd June - Distance: Six furlongs Chepstow Racecourse - Monday 24th June - Distance: One mile two furlongs Newbury Racecourse - Tuesday 25th June - Distance: One mile Nottingham Racecourse - Thursday 27th June - Distance: Six furlongs Racing Welfare's corporate fundraising and events manager Clare Kingston said, "If you've ever dreamt...

Ten runners came together to raise more than £15,000 for Racing Welfare when participating in the London Marathon, the charity organisation announced on Monday. The group who completed the 26.2-mile course on Sunday included Richard Cosgrave, who has received support from Racing Welfare having sustained a fall four years ago which resulted in a broken neck. He was joined by the likes of Chris Martin, assistant trainer to Archie Watson in Lambourn, Harrison Mills, strategy manager at the Jockey Club, and Sophie Webber, brand marketing assistant at Goffs. Daisy Felton,...

Nick Bannister will become the next chairman of Racing Welfare on June 12, the organisation announced on Wednesday. Currently chairman of Haydock Park Racecourse since 2020, Bannister will succeed William Barlow, who will be completing his five-year term. Bannister, who first worked for three decades in financial services, also manages the family-owned Coniston Hotel & Spa and its associated estate in the Yorkshire Dales. He has served as chair of The Countryside Alliance Foundation for six years and spent over 10 years as the deputy governor of the Hunt Staff...