Sue Ryder Mascot Gold Cup At Wetherby Races
Did you know that Wetherby Racecourse currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest mascot race? The title was won in 2015 and is yet to be toppled. If you haven’t witnessed the spectacle then book your tickets for Sunday 27th April – or better than that, tick it off your bucket list and take part!
The Mascot Gold Cup is big fundraiser for the charity Sue Ryder, a national healthcare charity, with two hospices in West Yorkshire. It forms the centrepiece of family day action at Wetherby racecourse. We caught up with Lindsey McManus and Andrew Wood, who both work for the charity, to find out a bit more.
Andrew started the Mascot Gold Cup in 2005, when he was the Chairman of Yorkshire Young Farmers and continued the theme when he started with Sue Ryder two years later. The race has raised over £250,000 for Sue Ryder and other charities over the last 18 years and this year, Modality Partnership are sponsoring the event. Having had 10 runners last year, the organisation who provides primary healthcare and community services across the United Kingdom, want to have a closer involvement with the charity, so have taken on title sponsorship and aim to have a good mascot turnout once again.
“People take part for so many different reasons,” said Lindsey.
“We have our regular club mascots and business who use the race as a promotional tool, while fundraising at the same time. We’ve had people take part to commemorate a significant birthday, or even better, race entry has been gifted as a birthday present.
We even had a newly married couple take part as part of their wedding celebrations!”
The race takes place over the final furlong at Wetherby – there is a slight incline, much more noticeable when running it on foot, rather than cheering your backed horse over the same distance. There are six obstacles to tackle, including a double and a water jump.
A furlong is 200 meters – it’s not that far, we all ran it at school and a horse can do it in about 12 seconds. Anyone who keeps themselves vaguely fit would be capable of completing in a respectable time, so is sourcing a mascot costume the main barrier to competing?
Well not according to Andrew and here’s why,
“Over the years, I’ve acquired about 100 mascot costumes for various reasons! We have a full catalogue, so if you want to enter but haven’t got a mascot costume you can choose one of ours. We bring it to the racecourse for you to run in so all you have to do is enter and turn up!”
Easy! So there are no excuses!
Those that have signed up so far include Robbie Moore, MP for Ilkely and Keighley, Football Club Mascots from Harrogate Town, Northallerton Town, York City, Whitby Town and Marske United, as well as business organisations, such as Stocked Park, Deep Blue Communications, Mr Chippy, Snooty Fox Pub, Marsh Top Farm and Hird and Partners Vets.
Entering is easy! There are four different categories – enter and bring your own mascot for £40 or enter and hire one from Sue Ryder, which is £50. These options are great for people who either want to have a bit of fun or raise funds for their own charities.
Alternatively, you can enter for as little as £1 or £2 if you want to hire a mascot, however you must pledge to raise £100 in sponsorship for Sue Ryder.
Both the Snappy Trust and Yorkshire Young Farmers are two charities who are using the mascot race to their benefit and the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme will have two mascots running on their behalf, poo emoji and toilet roll!
Regular followers of Go Racing In Yorkshire will be aware of our award-winning partnership with Yorkshire NHS Trusts and the Bowel Cancer Screening teams. The mascot race provides the opportunity to run ‘stool and sample’ together and raise the awareness of the importance of the testing kits, as part of their wider presence on course.
It’s even better than that, as part of the entry “package”, Wetherby racecourse will give complimentary admission to all those who are running and a friend and additional tickets can be purchased at half price for supporters, so you can really make a day of it!
It’s a proper spectacle! The two sausages are a real crowd favourite and in the mascot handicap system, they are given a head start as the long, thin costumes are really difficult to run in. There are four categories of mascots and the handicap system runs from A – D, each starting in seven second intervals.
It doesn’t have to end with the mascot race though, Panto Pony, a two-person costume, is a regular in the mascot race and successful too. Manned by Jonathan Binney and Lee Bilbrough, the pair finished second in 2022 and went one better, winning in 2023. However, the runners wanted to do more for Sue Ryder. Following their mascot race debut, they have cycled coast to coast and run the 32 mile Haworth Hobble over the moors in the Panto Pony costume. Having raised £14,000 in the last year for Sue Ryder, the adventurous pair will be making a cheque presentation on the day.
One mascot will be celebrating her 45th birthday in style! Sallie Dodd said,
“I’m usually dressed up to the nines, hat and all! But today I’m racing in style for a deserving charity.”
Go Racing In Yorkshire will be entering a racing themed mascot – keep your eyes peeled to find out more!
Anyone can enter the Mascot Gold Cup – so what are you waiting for?
In addition to the seven horse races (the mascot race bringing the tally up to 8!) the National Festival Circus will be in attendance, performing three free shows throughout the day. New Beginnings are bringing their equine ambassador and trade stand and there will be horse-themed crafting, as well as a giant inflatable slide and bouncy castle.
All the activity will be taking place in the Paddock Enclosure, which will allow racegoers to see the horses in the Parade Ring before racing and the winners’ enclosure afterwards.