A slightly less conventional way, but equally as valid, is the charity race.  The 54^th Macmillan charity raceday takes place at York on Saturday, June 14^th and this year sees the 11th running of the ‘Ride Of Their Lives’ charity race, where riders not only pledge to raise a minimum £4,000 in sponsorship, they commit to a gruelling fitness regime and have to pass both a riding and fitness test in order to be allowed to line up.

It’s a lot of effort for one race.  Some are happy to see it come to an end, while others just don’t want it to stop.

That is certainly true of Thomas Drewry, who took part in the ‘Ride Of Their Lives’ in 2021.  Still adapting to the fall out from Covid, the race this year was held in September, rather than the traditional June, but the riders had been selected back in early 2020, so had been preparing for a long time.

Thomas got involved for a couple of reasons.  He had grown up around horses, evented and was keen to have a go at racing.  His mother had also been diagnosed with cancer so it felt the right time to do it.

To prepare for the race, Thomas took up the fitness challenge and rode out at Jamie Osborne’s, who gave him a horse for the race, where he finished fifth.

Thomas loved the experience and had got himself fit and raring to go and just didn’t want to stop.

“I’d always wanted to race, but at 5’10, I knew that the flat was always going to be challenging and I love jumping.  I had previously toyed with the idea of point-to-pointing but not pursued it.”

Remembers Thomas.  He continued,

“I was 49, race fit and thought if I don’t do it now, I never will and I don’t want to go to my death bed with any regrets, so I rang Charlie Poste and said I want a pointer.”

Thomas says that Charlie’s response was simply,

“What took you so long?!”

In January 2022, Thomas bought a horse from Doncaster, called The Devils Drop and finished third in his first point-to-point.  The pair turned out again three weeks later and won!

Thomas Drewry point-to-pointing

Thomas rode in point-to-points for two seasons and while that itch is scratched, he is still riding out and hasn’t completely ruled out riding on the flat.

Lois Teal, also rode in the race the same year as Thomas and has a similar story.

Like Thomas, she grew up around horses and while she competed successfully in eventing, her older brother, Jack was running a pre-training and point-to-point yard, which Lois was involved in but didn’t have the inclination to race ride.

That all changed after she rode in the Macmillan charity race.  Lois was inspired to take part after a young girl she taught at Pony Club was diagnosed with cancer and Lois described her strength as she undertook treatment as “unreal”.

At the same time, her godfather was undergoing treatment for cancer and Lois was keen to raise money for such a worthy charity, by riding at York racecourse.

Lois was riding out for Richard Fahey, who is a big supporter of the race.

The decision to take out an amateur license was immediate.

Lois recalls,

“Because we did the race after covid, we’d been training and preparing for 18 months.  I did a full summer at Richard’s (Fahey) and I loved everything about it.  I’d never been into a racing yard before but it was so much craic.

“After the race, I really wanted to carry on so took out my amateur license.  Richard and Robin (O’Ryan) were so supportive and my first ride was a winner.

“Jack then bought me a pointer from Noel Meade, called Minella Fair and he ran eight times, winning twice and was never out of the frame.

“Now I buy store horses with my brother for pointing.

“I’ve got more involved in racing than I ever imagined.  I actually trained to be a teacher but it hasn’t happened yet!”

Lois Teal riding Diamond Flush at Friars Haugh

The most recent charity turned amateur rider is Camilla Parsonage from the 2024 cohort of Macmillan riders.

Like most, she was inspired to ride in the race, following the diagnosis of cancer in a family member.  She was at a point in her life where she was able to take on a new challenge and had seen friends ride in the race.  She felt it was something she wanted to do while still physically capable.

Camilla also has an eventing background and made the transition to race riding with the help of longtime friend Fiona Wainwright, wife of trainer John.

Throwing herself into the fitness and jockey training as well as regularly riding out, Camilla was encapsulated by the industry and loved the thrill of race riding.

“Everybody says that as soon as it’s finished, you’ll want to do it again and they were absolutely right!”

So that’s exactly what she did and promptly signed up for a second charity race at Thirsk a month later.

Not satisfied with just two rides, Camilla wanted more.

“I really enjoyed my two races, I was fit and the only way I could continue was to take out an amateur license, so that was the next step.”

Camilla Parsonage riding Biplane at York.  Picture credit: Hannah Ali

After being put through her paces on a two-day course at the National Horseracing College, Camilla was passed immediately and had her first amateur ride at Carlisle last month.

Camilla said;

“The Macmillan race has re-sparked my love of horses and allows me to ride competitively again.

John and Fiona have been so welcoming and I love being part of their team.”

Camilla’s 2024 charity race colleague Louis Pern is also taking the racing game more seriously.

Louis won the charity race, riding Hartswood for Richard Fahey and he has taken out an amateur license over jumps.  Louis intends to ride in point-to-points next season.

Louis Pern wins the Macmillan charity race on Hartswood.  Picture credit: Hannah Ali

“I’ve ridden most of my life, but until the Macmillan charity race, I had never sat on a racehorse.  I enjoyed York so much it inspired me to take out my license.”

Krista Brown was the first rider to take out an amateur license, after riding in the inaugural charity race back in 2012.  During the training process, she caught the bug and knew she wanted to continue and rode in 41 races between 2012 and 2014, winning three.

10 riders will be lining up for the challenge this year and thanks to their amazing fundraising efforts, they are all winners, regardless of where they finish in the race.  Who knows, we might see another signing up to the amateur ranks very soon!

You can still donate to their epic fundraising challenge and support this amazing charity.