Former Aintree Racecourse Managing Director, John Baker joins Racing to School board of Trustees

Racing to School is delighted to welcome former Aintree Racecourse Managing Director, John Baker to its board of Trustees. John has spent over thirty years working in the racing industry and his most recent role as MD at Aintree saw him become custodian of the country’s most loved race, the Grand National.

Industry-leading Community Programme

Part of his role at Aintree involved starting the industry-leading Aintree Community Programme, which aims to harness the affection and history of The People’s Race to support the local community. This initiative has been hugely successful over several years and has been acknowledged by the RCA Showcase Awards as the industry’s Best Community & CSR Programme between 2015-2017, and again in 2019.

Reflecting on his appointment, John Baker said: “I am honoured to be given the opportunity as Trustee of a cause which is so close to my heart. I am well aware of the transformational work both Racing to School and Racing Together deliver, through my participation in the Aintree Community Programme, and am very much looking forward to working with a great group of Trustees and a passionate Chairman in Michael Andrews.

“If this year has taught us anything, it is how much racing has to offer the communities it operates in and the need for racing to stay relevant, both with young people and the wider community beyond. If I can play some small part in helping to guide the future success of the charity in this area, that will be fantastic.”

Aintree Beacon Project

A showpiece within Aintree’s community work during and since John’s time at the helm is the Aintree Beacon project, in which the racecourse works closely with Racing to School and Racing Together, as well as the local Maricourt High School and four of its feeder primary schools. The Beacon delivers a series educational events designed to create annual engagement with the programme throughout pupils’ school life, to generate interest and knowledge in racing and also to create pathways to employment for those wishing to pursue careers in the sport.

The Aintree Community Programme’s strong partnership forged with Everton in the Community, the official charity of Everton Football Club, was another milestone for John when at the racecourse. This collaboration work between two of the biggest sports organisations in the local area has allowed them to accelerate their shared vision of using sport as a tool to deliver positive change within the community.

Everyone at Racing to School is delighted to welcome John as a new Trustee and we look forward to working with him to continue inspiring young minds and developing links between the sport and its communities.