Racecourses raise more than £2.2 million for charity in 2019

More than £2.2 million was raised through racecourse charitable activity in 2019 according to the community engagement survey published by Racing Together and the Racecourse Association.

Over 90 per cent of British racecourses shared details of last year’s community engagement activities, which covered topics such as volunteering, fundraising, donations raised and charity partnerships.

Two standout examples include the Macmillan Raceday at York, which raised over £600,000 in 2019, and the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood, which contributed almost £200,000 to Wellbeing of Women.

Highlights from the survey include:

• 372 free, curriculum-based school trips were hosted at racecourses in 2019 for 15,011 students
• 455 racecourse team members volunteered over 3,100 hours
• Over 10,000 free tickets were claimed through Tickets for Troops

Lucy Gurney, community engagement manager at Racing Together, said: “We know community engagement activity has been growing across racing and to see this evidenced in these results is brilliant.

“We're proud to support and showcase racing’s community engagement activity and look forward to continuing to help racecourses and racing businesses to be a force for good in their local communities this year.”

Ryan Day to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for IJF

Ryan Day is set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in August to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund and raise awareness for mental health.

The Grade 2-winning jockey fell in the Eider Chase a year ago and ruptured his spleen and kidney as well as breaking two ribs.

He was sidelined for four months, during which time he seriously contemplated retiring from the saddle. Now recovered from his struggles with mental health and back riding, Day is keen to support the charity that helps jockeys during difficult times.

Speaking to journalist John Walsh, Day said: “I’ve always beaten myself up over things and wasn’t in a good place mentally, on top of the injuries.

“I’ve talked with sports psychologists in the past but it hasn’t made much difference.

“When recovering from my injuries I started talking regularly to a certain person and gradually I realised there was a lot more in this world to focus on.

“So when we decided to do this climb and raise money the IJF and mental health awareness and wellbeing were naturals to support."

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