Industry-wide Initiatives & Case Studies
You will find below some fantastic examples of community, education and diversity and inclusion initiatives taking place across the sport.
Racecourses donating Tickets For Troops
Every British racecourse pledges to support Tickets for Troops each year, which equates to over 94,000 tickets donated since the scheme started.
Using the power of horseracing and the Grand National to inspire others
Aintree racecourse’s multiple award-winning community programme uses the power of horseracing and the Grand National to inspire children and adults alike to be the best that they can be. Their three key themes are Health and Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Education and Enterprise.
Britain’s biggest charity raceday: York Racecourse and Macmillan Cancer Support
Held in June, the Macmillan Charity Raceday at York Racecourse raises over £500,000 each year, totalling over £8.5 million since its inception almost 50 years ago.
The day includes a charity race: the Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of their Lives’, a skydive, auctions, raffles and bucket collections to support local cancer support services and nurses.
Ascot Racecourse supporting the local community and beyond
“Ascot Racecourse Supports” was launched in 2017 and brings together all Ascot Racecourse’s community and charity work into one programme for the benefit of the local community and beyond. Its goals are to support small, local charities and community groups with a focus on children and mental health issues, in addition to equine charities. Watch their 2020 end of year video below to find out more.
Ascot’s accessibility programme now includes a sunflower lanyard scheme, also in use at Sainsbury’s and some London airports, which allows racegoers to self-identify as having hidden disabilities, so that specially trained members of raceday staff can be prepared to offer additional help should they need it; in simple terms it’s about asking “How may I help you?” when approached. A new Sunflower Lawn is available at the dedicated fixtures, which is a quiet space for racegoers who might be struggling with hidden disabilities and anxiety disorders.
The Magnolia Cup
This renowned charity event sees riders who are the leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in the opening race of Ladies’ Day at Glorious Goodwood, dressed in colourful bespoke silks.
The race made history last year, when Khadijah Mellah won the race aboard Charlie Fellowes-trained Haverland, having never ridden a racehorse a few months earlier, and learnt to ride at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton.
The Magnolia Cup is now in its tenth year and has raised over £1.5 million for a number of charities since its inception. The race itself is run over five-and-a-half-furlongs down Goodwood’s straight in front of a capacity crowd of 25,000.
In 2019 the race raised over £200,000 for Wellbeing of Women.
Latest news: racing’s community and social impact
- Retraining of Racehorses and Ascot Racecourse Supports celebrate three years of impact at Royal Ascot, with £65,000 already raised for former racehorses
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British horseracing’s official charity committed to safeguarding the welfare of former racehorses, is marking the third and final year of its Royal Ascot partnership with Ascot Racecourse Supports, celebrating a three-year initiative… Read more: Retraining of Racehorses and Ascot Racecourse Supports celebrate three years of impact at Royal Ascot, with £65,000 already raised for former racehorses - Every ticket sold, every partnership, every conversation contributes to our wider mission’: Bridget Milner-Moore reflects on next week’s Yorkshire Children’s Charity Raceday at Pontefract Racecourse
I’m Bridget Milner-Moore, Charity Development Manager at Yorkshire Children’s Charity. I joined the team last September, though I have been involved with the charity since it was founded. Alongside that, horseracing has always been a huge… Read more: Every ticket sold, every partnership, every conversation contributes to our wider mission’: Bridget Milner-Moore reflects on next week’s Yorkshire Children’s Charity Raceday at Pontefract Racecourse - Jockeys and racing media company join sport’s volunteer effort for first time
British racing united for the seventh Racing Together Community Week (18-24th May) to volunteer in support of local communities and to celebrate the sport’s year-round social impact. Jockeys took part for the first time, including Tom… Read more: Jockeys and racing media company join sport’s volunteer effort for first time - Trustee opening – Racing to School is recruiting to its Board
Racing to School’s volunteer Board is a vital and dynamic partner to the charity’s team, offering support and challenge and, above all, different viewpoints to help drive impact. To help maintain the relevance and value of… Read more: Trustee opening – Racing to School is recruiting to its Board - RMG colleagues trade desks for yard duties at Ebony Horse Club
Racecourse Media Group staff stepped out of their comfort zones today as 30 colleagues spent the day volunteering at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, supporting the charity’s work to transform young lives through horses. The team… Read more: RMG colleagues trade desks for yard duties at Ebony Horse Club - Promoting Positive Mental Health: Pontefract on Combatting Loneliness —Talk of the Course Episode 7
In the first of two episodes to reflect on Mental Health Awareness Week, episode 7 of Talk of the Course features Jon Mullin, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at Pontefract Racecourse. Jon discusses the… Read more: Promoting Positive Mental Health: Pontefract on Combatting Loneliness —Talk of the Course Episode 7