news Racing Industry's Commitment to Former Racehorse Aftercare Spotlighted by Ambassadors

In recent months, a significant number of our Horses for Courses equine ambassadors have been actively engaged, either participating at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships last month or extending their support for National Racehorse Week.

The Horses for Courses initiative, supported by Godolphin launched earlier this year to highlight post racing careers and care given to racehorses once their racing days come to an end. In total over five Jockey Club and several independent racecourses have announced their first equine ambassadors to promote and appear at selected racedays.

Throughout the season, each course will actively promote their ambassador’s second career on their communication channels, regardless of whether they are competing or simply a beloved member of the family. As a result, the racing industry can convey to the public the quality of life that former racehorses experience, as well as educate them on the variety of career options available to them at retirement.

The Jockey Club RoR National Championships, Great Britain’s largest event exclusively for former racehorses, got underway at Aintree International Equestrian Centre on Wednesday 23^rd August featuring four days of competition, including classes in dressage, arena eventing, showjumping and showing.

Along with Wetherby's ambassador, Wemyss Point, Duke of Navan and Taking Risks all received similar success at the RoR Championships with Wemyss Point winning the Newcomers class and Carlisle's ambassador, Duke of Navan finishing second in his open in hand class. Meanwhile, Aintree Racecourse’s ambassador Definitly Red, the two-time champion of the Many Clouds Chase in 2017 and 2018, continues to be a champion on and off the track with his owner Andy Robertson. The pair won two classes and made it through to the finals of both the Tattersalls RoR Opening In Hand and Amateur Ridden Show Series in only their first year attending the Championships.

To celebrate National Racehorse Week, which ran from 9-7 September, many of our ambassadors including Ascot’s ambassador headed out into the community. The globetrotting superstar, Side Glance and owner Leanne White not only visited their racecourse to meet and greet racegoers but also visited a Signature care home, delighting residents and staff as he had free rein of the home’s garden.

As part of the week, there were also racecourse visits from Robinsfirth, Haydock’s ambassador who paraded in front of the race-day crowd and Duke of Navan, Carlisle’s ambassador who met racegoers in the parade ring and also Kelly Harding, Duke of Navan’s owner hosted a stable visit for Carlisle’s annual members. Find out more about Horses For Courses www.ror.org.uk/welfare/education/ror-parades.