‘It’s about leaving something self-preserving’ - Cambridge University Horse Racing Society hitting full stride

Oliver Burridge-Dean is a man on a mission, combining his final-year Cambridge University commitments with running a society dedicated to recruiting more young people into horseracing.

Burridge-Dean, now in the home straight in terms of studying Land Economy at St John's College, is a relative newcomer to the world of racing but his passion for the sport shines through in meeting him. 

Indeed, it has grown to such an extent that he is now heading the Cambridge University Horse Racing Society, which promotes the sport within the famous seat of learning.

He says: “My love for racing has come along fairly recently, but I now even have a filly in training for my girlfriend named after her family home in Italy, Cavriana."

Some of the Cambridge University Horse Racing Society team pictured with Oisin Murphy at Newmarket

His cousin is Sam Sangster, the well-known and respected bloodstock agent, and he has played his part in helping Burridge-Dean encourage more recruits at Cambridge.

"Sam has really been helping me in what I've been doing," he says. "We did a dinner in Cambridge at the end of term, when he talked about his background in racing and how he got to where he is today. 

"Sam's talk went down so well and he told some great stories about the people he meets and his clients. It's about sparking the interest in different ways and hopefully now, from that dinner of 24 people, all those people will come along to the National Stud visit we're having. 

"We're also trying to get our colours registered in the Cambridge blue, and the long-term goal is to syndicate a horse."

The Cambridge University Horse Racing Society silks designed by Weatherbys

Going further back and explaining the roots of the foundation of the society, Burridge-Dean says: "In my first year at Cambridge, an events company called Invades got in touch to help organise a raceday at Newmarket.

"They didn't have anyone in the area to run events, so I took on the role to set up a team. We successfully took more than 150 students to Newmarket races, and coincidentally that month we got invited to brunch with the master of our college, Heather Hancock, whose husband Herbie came to our dinner. 

"I had a chat with him and told him about the event at Newmarket and a little about my family's background in racing, and he rather conveniently had met with a chap called Matthew Lohn the week before, the newly appointed chairman of Newmarket racecourses.

"Matthew had recently told him he wanted to set up a racing society at Cambridge, so I was put in touch with Matthew and he said that, given we were 20 minutes away from Newmarket, it was mad that we didn't have a society. He also said Newmarket racecourses, with the support of the Jockey Club, would back and sponsor us."

Eoin Finn (left), secretary of the Cambridge University Horse Racing Society at Newmarket's final meeting last autumn

As an aside, if that name rings a bell, yes, it is the same Matthew Lohn whose involvement with the BHA as both an adviser and disciplinary panel chairman created a possible perception of bias and led to nine cases, most notoriously that of trainer Jim Best, being revisited.

Burridge-Dean continues: "Matthew kindly invited myself and a good friend, Jonnie Scott-Bromly, along to the Jockey Club Rooms to meet with him and the other key driving force of the society, Sophie Able of Newmarket racecourses and international director at the Jockey Club."                                     

Having the Jockey Club sponsorship and support is a major fillip to the university society, something Burridge-Dean recognises and says allows the students much closer access to the stars of the sport.

"The aim is to improve student access to racing," he says. "I think racing can be seen as a bit unreachable and what people forget is how much goes into it at all levels. 

"There's such a sense of community in the sport and, luckily, through support by the Jockey Club, we're able to take students along on that journey.

"We're able to offer things like paddock access when we go racing. Being that close to the horses makes such a difference, it's incredible and it's something money can't buy. What has been amazing is how keen everyone is to help; everyone in racing is so interested in what we're doing and so willing to support us."

It took time for the society to hit full stride, with the momentum of the summer of 2022 leading to trips being organised throughout the academic year, with Newmarket letting them make use of the royal box for Dubai Future Champions Day in the October. 

Burridge-Dean says: "It took a while to get going, I suppose March 2022 was when we decided to go ahead and get things ready that summer for Dubai Future Champions Day in the October. That was what I'd call our trial year, where we'd ask people if they were interested in coming along to the races and yards.

"We've managed to put on quite a few racedays since, when the Jockey Club have let us make use of their winning connections’ boxes and take groups, which are always well looked after by Carmelo Nobile at Newmarket. 

"We really kicked on over that summer [of 2022], and we even had our logo created by Weatherbys Bank. They've been really helpful and we've got a tour of Weatherbys in Wellingborough coming up, plus they're letting us use their box in April.

"More recently, from September 2023, we've been fully established and have more than 150 members. We've just launched our new website with support from M3 Media, and we have a society Facebook group and Instagram page where we promote all our events. 

"We did two trips to Newmarket last term, along with a dinner, while Martin Mitchell, Cambridge alumnus and former director of Tattersalls, has been amazing in looking after us on our visits to Tatts. We're looking to do a big day out to the Guineas meeting as well."

Burridge-Dean is also keen on introducing stud visits to the society's itinerary, saying: "I went to see Frankel with my cousin in November and that was incredible, it's something else when you've got the likes of Juddmonte down the road, and one of our members has instigated something with Darley."

Ultimately, he hopes the society can have a long-term impact and leave a life-lasting impression on students, and he will still be involved on the committee even after he departs Cambridge this summer.

"It's about leaving something self-preserving and it means a lot to me personally because of my family," he says.

Further information on the society can be obtained by emailing committee@cuhrs.com or visiting their website or Instagram page.

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