Retraining of Racehorses and Ascot Racecourse Supports celebrate three years of impact at Royal Ascot, with £65,000 already raised for former racehorses
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is marking the third and final year of its Royal Ascot partnership with Ascot Racecourse Supports, celebrating a three-year initiative that has already raised £65,000 to support former racehorses and life after racing.
Royal Ascot 2026 takes place from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June and, for the final year of the partnership, Ascot Racecourse Supports will once again donate £5,000 to RoR for every winner ridden by Ryan Moore during the week.
The initiative raised £30,000 in 2024 and £35,000 in 2025, with the 2026 total still to come. Over the past two years, this generous support has helped RoR strengthen its work across welfare, education, traceability and the promotion of successful second careers for former racehorses.
The partnership has also helped RoR invest in its long-term fundraising future. Funding from Ascot Racecourse Supports contributed to the launch of RoR’s fundraising microsite in early 2025, which played an important role in increasing online individual giving by more than fivefold.
Money raised through the 2025 and 2026 campaigns will also support RoR’s wider digital redevelopment, helping improve how the charity communicates with owners, delivers education, captures data and strengthens traceability after racing.
David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, said: “We are hugely grateful to Ascot Racecourse Supports for its continued and generous support of RoR. Through this partnership, Ascot has used the profile of Royal Ascot to champion life after racing and help raise vital funds for former racehorses.
“We are also extremely grateful to Ryan Moore, whose incredible success at Royal Ascot has helped generate such significant support for RoR over the past two years. We wish Ryan the very best of luck for this year’s Royal Ascot and look forward to following his rides during what is always such a special week for racing.
“The partnership has already raised £65,000 for RoR and has helped us invest in areas that will strengthen our long-term impact, from digital fundraising to improved communication, education and traceability. That support makes a real difference to our ability to reach more owners, support more horses and promote the many opportunities available to former racehorses after racing.”
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said: "We are very proud of what this initiative with Retraining of Racehorses has achieved. Royal Ascot provides a global stage for the sport, and it is important that we use that platform to highlight the care and consideration given to our horses beyond their racing careers. The impact of the initiative has been significant, both in terms of funds raised and awareness generated. We are grateful to Ryan Moore for the role he has played in helping to deliver that support."
Ryan Moore said: "Royal Ascot is always a special week, and I’m pleased that my results there have been able to contribute to the work of Retraining of Racehorses. Hopefully I can ride a few winners again this year and help add to what has already been raised."
RoR is British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing. The charity works to safeguard the wellbeing of former racehorses, support the people who care for them, improve traceability and celebrate the versatility of the thoroughbred in life after racing.
During Royal Ascot week, RoR will share updates as the campaign progresses, including the running total raised through Ryan Moore’s winners.
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Notes to editors
For more information, please contact Vicky Vine, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, [email protected]
Retraining of Racehorses
Established in 2000, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all former racehorses through various preventative measures, including:
• Setting industry standards for retraining former racehorses.
• Providing training and education to owners to build lifelong partnerships with their retired racehorses.
• Promoting the versatility of these horses in various equestrian activities and facilitating their participation in competitions.
• Maintaining a robust tracking system for former racehorses through RoR membership.
RoR also extends support to former racehorses in times of need through its welfare work.
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as being ideal for horseracing when riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four day meeting at Ascot took place in 1768 and at some point in time, the race programme started being referred to as Royal Ascot.
The two tracks, Flat and Jumps, now provide racing all year round and Ascot hosts 26 days of racing each year, including the five days of Royal Ascot. It is Europe’s premier Flat racing meeting, featuring eight Group 1 races and 19 Group races in total. Typically, 300,000 racegoers attend across the five days while the event is broadcast in more than 200 territories with a reach of 650 million households.
As well as world-class racing, Ascot Racecourse is also used as a film and TV filming location and as a venue for conferences, banquets, exhibitions, product launches and weddings, with 300 non-racing events annually. The land on which Ascot Racecourse sits is leased from the Crown Estate, adjacent to Windsor Great Park, covering 179 acres.