RCA Racing Together Community Award 2024: Focus on the finalists
With the RCA Showcase Awards 2024 just a over week away, this short series will shine a spotlight on each of the five finalists in the Racing Together Community Award and look at why their projects caught the judges’ eyes.
First up is Chelmsford City Racecourse…
Remembrance Raceday
On Saturday 11th November 2023, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, Chelmsford City Racecourse hosted its first ever Remembrance Raceday. Under a theme of unity, their aim was to bring together members of the Armed Forces, both past and present, and racegoers from the local and wider communities to pay tribute to our serving Armed Forces members and remember those heroes of the past.
The racecourse promoted the event to over 250 Armed Forces organisations, many of whom where outside of their usual demographic. They wanted to encourage visitors who may not have previously visited by offering complimentary tickets to a unique event that featured exciting racing and military-style entertainment including a bugler, Wimbish Military Wives Choir and majorettes. A poignant wreath laying ceremony took place before the racing and races were dedicated to the Royal British Legion.
One racegoer commented “I travelled over from Northern Ireland especially for this and it was fantastic, I loved it. It was a great day, the band, the food, all great and the racing was unbelievable. I will be back next year.”
Commitment to the Armed Forces
In addition to this event, Chelmsford’s ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces is highlighted by their work with the Tickets for Troops and Blue Light schemes, and their military-focused fundraising events, including raising money for the limbless-veterans charity BLESMA and the Poppy Appeal.
On reaching the final five, Jo Flaherty, Head of Customer Service, Community and Membership at Chelmsford City Racecourse said “Chelmsford City Racecourse values the importance of supporting our Armed Forces, regularly contributing to the Tickets for Troops, and Blue Light schemes, further offering the community a unique raceday experience, inviting all serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces by offering complimentary tickets.
On this Remembrance Raceday our aim was to honour all active service members, veterans and those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. A key feature of the event was to include a poignant wreath-laying ceremony, which was meticulously planned with thorough research to ensure the correct protocol and order of service was followed. This involved inviting key representatives from the Armed Forces and wider community including The Mayor of Chelmsford to take part. In support of the Royal British Legion we hosted this meaningful raceday bringing together the Armed Forces and regular racegoers, which included visitors young and old by providing military entertainment for all the family.
Our commitment to the Armed Forces extends across a diverse sector supporting other charities alongside the Royal British Legion, including local limbless veterans charity BLESMA and volunteering for Abberton Rural Training. We are extremely proud to have raised over £12,000 for the Armed Forces since August 2023.
It is an honour to be recognised as a finalist by the RCA for this event and our contribution to the community, and we are immensely grateful for their support.”
The facts and figures
- £5000 raised for the Royal British Legion
- 75% of attendees were first time visitors
- 1362 people attended: triple the number the previous year
- Now established as a legacy event
Will Chelmsford City Racecourse be this year’s RCA Showcase Community Award winners? Keep following to find out.
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