‘One way to practise for sister’s wedding!’- Lara Telfer’s note-perfect for Racing Welfare

Furlong Factor winner, Lara Telfer talks to Racing Together about her career in racing and how humbled she is to have been voted as the voice of racing’s lockdown.

 A Champion in the saddle

I have been involved in horseracing my whole life and my entire family have either ridden or trained racehorses at some point and over a few generations, too. Our most notable winner was Blue Cheek in the 1997 Aintree Fox Hunters.

I was also lucky enough to win the 2014/15 National Novice Ladies’ Point-to-Point Championship with a few prolific horses. The Magherally Man won six races for me that season. He was unbelievable! I was just a passenger.

From a work perspective, after leaving university, I secured a place on the BHA Graduate Programme where I was placed at Warwick Racecourse in a sales and marketing role. I have stayed with The Jockey Club ever since. I moved to Newmarket after completing my placement at Warwick and worked for The Jockey Club Estates and subsequently moved onto Cheltenham in 2013.

Is an album on the cards?

It has been amazing, and very surreal to win the Furlong Factor! I was overwhelmed by all the support I received throughout the competition. It gave me, and all those close to me, something to focus on during these tough times. It was a good distraction from watching the news, too! I still can’t believe I actually won. There were some incredible singers among the finalists.

All my colleagues across The Jockey Club were incredibly supportive and I’m still receiving lovely messages of congratulations, even now! My manager Matthew has messaged me today to ask if I’d sing an album!

Pleased to support Racing Welfare

After getting to the final in the competition, I always said to my husband that I wanted to give something back to Racing Welfare, if I was lucky enough to win, so I donated £500 back to the charity. I’ve been in the industry my whole life, as have my family, so it was great to be able to support them in a time when they need it the most. The charity supports all those people who work across the sport, and in so many ways; they don’t receive grants or funding from the government and are reliant on their fundraising activities, which have been cancelled, like everything else at the moment. I’m really pleased that they have reached their £50,000 fundraising target.

What’s next?

Well, I’ll be carrying on singing for now: next stop is to sing at my twin sister’s wedding at the end of the year!

Find out more about the Furlong Factor and support Racing Welfare’s Emergency Appeal here: http://racingwelfare.co.uk/Furlong-Factor/