Good Racing Co’s new initiative in support of Racing Welfare and Racing to School

A unique fundraising scheme to set to raise funds for two racing charities, Racing to School and Racing Welfare.

The Good Racing Co was set up to dedicate horses from its stables to raise funds and awareness for different charitable causes. Created by Phil Hawthorne, the man behind the hugely successful Burrow Seven campaign, The Good Racing Co aims to have eight horses racing for different good causes within a year. 

The innovative fundraising racing club has brought Burrow Seven into its fold, which through Rob Burrow, introduced Rugby League fans to the world of racing. People are now able to become a corporate or individual member to the latest promising thoroughbred in its stable – Go Go Chicago. 

Trained by O’Brien McPherson Racing, Go Go Chicago is set to raise funds for the racing charities, as profits from membership sales are divided between them. 

Phil Hawthorne, CEO of The Good Racing Co explains: “We’ve already raised £100,000 for charity through Burrow Seven, which is phenomenal. It helped me see there’s a huge potential for racing to raise money for charity. With The Good Racing Co, we aim to redefine racing as an all-inclusive sport that motivates and excites people for many different reasons, especially racing for good causes.

“We believe that there’s more to winning than coming first and we’re looking towards a future in which everybody wins.  With our new racing club, when people buy a membership to a horse in our stable, they can share in making a difference and improving the lives of those in need.

“This just the start of what we hope will be a growing movement of racing for good because together we can do good on a grand scale – and have fun along the way.”

Dawn Goodfellow, CEO at Racing Welfare explains: “The sentiment and ambition behind The Good Racing Co is fantastic. Membership offers an affordable way for people to get involved with British horseracing, while also helping to give back to the sport at the same time. We’re extremely grateful that Phil has chosen to support Racing Welfare and Racing to School with this new venture, and we look forward to seeing Go Go Chicago giving members the combined thrill of racing while making a difference to our industry.”

Go Go Chicago is a promising, young bay gelding by the highly successful stallion, Shirocco, who has bred many famous winners including Annie Power (a five-time Group 1 winner), Lac Fontana, Minella Rocco, Third Wind and Silver Hallmark. Over the last nine months, jump horse Go Go Chicago has been trained in Cheltenham by O’Brien McPherson Racing, who hope he’ll compete in his first race in late October 2022.  

Go Go Chicago was the name chosen for the horse from a selection that were provided by local school Longborough Primary CofE School following their visit with Racing to School to the yard in April. 

Commenting on the trip to O’Brien McPherson Racing, Dr Fran Regan, Longborough School’s Head of School said: “The ‘best trip ever’ was pretty much the general consensus from my year 5/6 class. All the children adored meeting the horses, stroking them, letting them breathe gently on their faces – it was very therapeutic. Every child relished the chance to see the horses run up past them on the gallops, and lots of children couldn’t believe how wide the jumps were. Even my non-horsey students fell in love with thoroughbreds.

“We were super grateful to Ollie at Racing to School for this once in a lifetime opportunity to name a racehorse. It’s amazing our ‘Go Go Chicago’ name has been chosen. We look forward to seeing him run in the future.”

John Blake, CEO at Racing to School concludes: “We are very grateful to The Good Racing Co. for this new initiative and wish the horses and their new owners great success. Racing to School delivers the sport’s largest community programme and we are ambitious to work with partners to reach more young people to support their education and career aspirations.”

Membership to Go Go Chicago costs £60 per year and all profits are split between Racing Welfare and Racing to School. Visit www.thegoodracing.co for more details.