Gold day raises £10,000 for ex-racehorse welfare charity
A charity golf day in Oxfordshire on 11 May raised £10,000 for Greatwood the ex-racehorse welfare charity.
Jockeys, trainers and owners played on the red course at Frilford Heath Golf course for the event run by Greatwood’s patrons, racehorse owners Russell and Lesley Field.
The gallant golfers included legendary jockey John Francome, National Hunt trainer, Warren Greatex, Channel 4 racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald and racehorse owner John Hales.
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing sponsored the event for the second year running.
Irish visitors included Charlie McCreevy, Aidan Walsh and representatives for Tattersalls Ireland and Goffs.
Greatwood was set up in 1993 to use racehorses to educated disadvantaged children and young adults with special education needs and disabilities.
An open day is being held on 26 July at the charity’s farm near Marlborough, Wiltshire. Entrance is £10 for adults; children under 12 are £5.
For more information visit: www.greatwoodcharity.org
BETA International 2016 supports The Brooke and Hope Pastures
BETA International’s chosen charities for next year’s trade fair are The Brooke and Hope Pastures, a Yorkshire-based equine rescue and rehoming centre.
Both charities will have information stands at the show and a session in the horse demonstration & seminar area.
“We are extremely pleased that The Brooke and Hope Pastures have accepted our invitation to become chosen charities for 2016,” said BETA International organiser, Claire Thomas.
“They both do a fantastic job – one of the world stage, the other on a more local basis – to improve the lives of millions of equines.”
The Brooke helps nearly 1.5million working equines each year in 11 different countries across the world.
Hope Pastures rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes equines throughout Yorkshire.
The charity’s Kim Pengelly said the charity hopes its presence at the trade fair will “bring us further support and funding to allow us to take care of more animals in need.”
BETA International takes place next year at the NEC in Birmingham from 24-26 January.
Charity race for stable staff launched
A charity race for stable staff is being held at Racing Welfare’s raceday at Doncaster racecourse on 29 June.
The Clock Tower Cup run over seven furlongs is restricted to twelve entrants.
The race is open to stable staff named on the British Horseracing Authority stable staff register, who have ridden no more than three winners under rules and have never held an apprentice of professional jockey’s licence.
Entrants must ride horses trained by their current employer.
The winning rider will be presented with the Clock Tower Cup and take home a pair of boots from Fairfax and Favor and a race exercise saddle from Custom Leather Saddles.
All the sponsorship money raised will be donated to Racing Welfare, the Newmarket-based charity which helps racing personnel in need.
Entries for the race close on 29 May. For more information visit: www.racingwelfare.co.uk
School raises £6,000 for horse rangers
A school in Twickenham presented children’s charity The Horse Rangers Association with a cheque for £6,000 on 11 May.
The charity was chosen by the head boy and girl of Newland House School as this year’s local organisation for parents, staff and pupils to support.
The Horse Rangers Association was nominated for its work in helping special needs children in the local community.
A group of Year 8 boys visited the HRA stables to see an RDA session, meet the staff and the horses last Wednesday (13 May).
The size of the cheque was a “huge surprise” to HRA staff.
Col Geoffrey Godbold, the HRAs director said the funds will be used to buy essential equipment for the RDA programme, put on an open day in June for riders, friends and families and an end-of-year gymkhana.
