Aspiring jockeys set to race for charities at Newbury on November 7th

A group of aspiring jockeys will be heading to the starting line at Newbury Racecourse on November 7 to take part in The British Horse Society’s (BHS) annual one-mile charity Flat race.

An event rider, a trainer and a firefighter taking part

International eventer Nick Gauntlett and trainer Mick Appleby are among a dozen riders who will be training and racing towards a £2,500 fundraising target in aid of a BHS charity campaign of their choice. Before the race day, the jockeys are required to complete a gruelling fitness test to ensure they comply with the required racing standards. See the full list of riders and how to support them here.

The BHS campaigns being supported by the riders

Changing Lives Through Horses: aiming to improve the lives of disengaged young people, regardless of their background, and give them the opportunity to develop skills that enable them to return to education and/or employment.

Dead or Dead Slow: building on their solid foundation of road safety education and campaigning to make drivers aware of what to do when they encounter horses on the road.

Friends at the End: a BHS initiative designed to make sure that no horse owner has to face the loss of their equine companion alone.

Helping Horses: designed to support BHS essential welfare work and importantly, to change the behaviour, through education, of people who do not look after their horses properly.

Tracy Casstles, Director of Fundraising at The British Horse Society said:

“I am delighted to introduce our inspiring set of jockeys who will be riding in our charity Flat race. The jockeys’ training has been intense and unlike any riding or training many of them have done before, so it’s certainly putting them through their paces. Last year’s race ended in an exciting dead heat and the £25,000 raised made a huge contribution to our charitable work. We look forward to another phenomenal day and seeing if the jockeys can smash last year’s fundraising total.”

The charity race takes place at midday on 7 November with charity lunch tickets costing £55, which include entry to the afternoon racing, and to an exclusive lunch and auction.

BHS members are entitled to 50% off tickets for afternoon racing using the discount code BHS19 (does not include lunch).

Full details and tickets available at www.bhs.org.uk/newburycharityrace