As part of their Covid-19 Emergency Appeal, Racing Welfare have come together with Great British Racing (GBR), the Tote, and Sky Sports Racing, in a fundraising initiative to find the industry’s very own pop idol through a brand new singing competition, The Furlong Factor.  The competition is free to enter and the winner will walk away with £1,500 in cash and, courtesy of Racing Breaks, an all-expenses-paid trip to the Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe.

The Furlong Factor is open to anyone involved in the UK racing industry who is 18 years old or over.  Entries can come from solo performers, duets or groups, as long as social distancing rules are adhered to!

www.racingwelfare.co.uk/furlong-factor

All funds raised from the Furlong Factor will go towards Racing Welfare’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal.  The financial impact on the charity of Covid-19 has been severe and they have experienced a significant drop in income with the loss of fundraising events and activities.  This has come at a time when demand for Racing Welfare’s services, including financial advice and mental health support, have never been so crucial to the wellbeing of those working in the industry.

The best and most entertaining entries will go through to a round of heats which will run from Wednesday 29^th April to Monday 4^th May.  Each heat will generate a winner, as voted for by the public, who will go through to a final to be held on Saturday 9^th May.  In the run-up to the final racing fans will have the opportunity to back their favourite contestants through the Tote,  before voting is opened on Twitter to find the winner of the Furlong Factor 2020.

To enter the Furlong Factor contestants simply need to record themselves singing into their phone and email their videos to communications@racingwelfare.co.uk or send in by WhatsApp to 07970 631170.  Anyone wishing to enter now has 9 days to plan, rehearse and submit their videos and entries for the competition will close on Friday 24^th April.  Full details on how to enter and all the terms and conditions are on the Racing Welfare website: www.racingwelfare.co.uk/furlong-factor.

You can support Racing Welfare now by going to justgiving.com/RWEmegergencyAppeal.

Sky Sports Racing’s Luke Harvey, who will be the guest host of the Furlong Factor, said: “I am very proud to be involved in raising funds for Racing Welfare during these difficult times for racing.  The industry has plenty of hidden talents from the weighing room and training ranks, to owners and stable staff (as well as a fair few jokers!) and I can’t wait to see the entries flooding in.”

Susannah Gill, Tote Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, commented “We’re delighted to support The Furlong Factor which promises to be a lot of fun and look forward to hearing the musical talent on show within the racing community. All profits from the betting on the final on 9th May will go to Racing Welfare whose team simply does an amazing job helping so many people in the sport, which has never been more important than it is now. Good luck to all involved!”

Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare Chief Executive, said, “The lockdown has had a massive impact on racing and we are supporting more people than ever before.  In the last three weeks we have seen an increase in demand for our services. We are determined to be there for everyone that needs our help.  We know that racing is one big community and I very much hope that people will get involved in this initiative to support our work, and also uncover some hidden singing talent from within the sport!”