Racing to School feature in two RCA Showcase Awards finalist entries

Racing to School is proud to be featured as part of two finalist’s entries for the prestigious RCA Showcase Non-Raceday Award, the winner of which will be announced at tomorrow’s awards ceremony at Aintree.

The Non-Raceday Award recognises that the racecourse is a multi-purpose, year-round venue. Entries should celebrate fantastic non-raceday events that provide memorable days out, engage the local community with the racecourse and enhance the racecourse brand.  

This year both Cheltenham and Doncaster Racecourses worked with Racing to School to develop new initiatives to bring their prestigious race meetings closer to the community. Back in March, Cheltenham opened their gates to four local primary schools on the Monday before the Festival. Dubbed ‘Festival Monday’ over 75 children engaged with the history of the track, and met both equine and human stars of the racing world. This day will be developed as part of Cheltenham’s Gold Cup centenary celebrations and become a firm fixture in the lead up to future Cheltenham Festivals.

At the other end of the season, Doncaster Racecourse hosted a similar event before the St Leger Festival. Over 60 children descended on Town Moor for a full day of activities in September, which included a history of the race, use of equicisers and meeting former jockey Page Fuller and trainer Scott Dixon’s Rebel Redemption, who stood patiently to be fed 60 polos! The aim of the day was to reconnect the community with the racecourse and showcase the sport’s oldest Classic race and its  importance to the children’s hometown.

Racing to School was delighted to work with both The Jockey Club and Arena Racing Company to deliver these bespoke and pioneering education days, engaging with the communities in which the racecourses operate at an local level.  Completing the quartet within this category are Salisbury for their Walk and Talk initiative and Chester for the Lord Mayor’s Firework Extravaganza. The charity wishes good luck to all the finalists in the Non-Raceday Award category.