STARS OF THE TURF RAISE FUNDS FOR RACING WELFARE AT THE ARC MALTON OPEN DAY 2024
Yorkshire was awash with racing fans this weekend, as visitors descended on Malton to see stars of the turf up close, with the unique opportunity to follow them from the yard to the racetrack, all in the name of charity.
On Sunday 8th September, more than a thousand visitors attended the ARC Malton Open Day, which was organised by the charity Racing Welfare. The event saw trainers in Malton and surrounding areas opening their yards to give visitors behind-the-scenes access to their horses and training facilities.
Racing Welfare partnered with York Racecourse again this year, to offer a combined ticket to attend the ARC Malton Open Day and the YorkMix Family Sunday meeting, at discounted prices. This meant visitors got the chance to see the horses up close at the yards in their home environment, and then follow some of them to the prestigious racetrack at York.
Despite the deluge of rain, a total of 1,028 tickets were sold, including 330 on the day itself, and it’s estimated the event has raised £10k for Racing Welfare, with the final figure still to be confirmed.
Funds raised will go towards helping people like Jess Harper, 20, who works at a yard in Malton. Jess broke her back in January 2023 when she fell from a horse while at work and in August 2023, having made a recovery, was then involved in a car crash, resulting in her breaking her back for a second time. Due to the severity of her injuries, Jess had to undergo surgery and wear braces to support her body.
Jess said: “I couldn’t work due to my injuries and the sick pay wasn’t enough. I was struggling so I had to sell my car to get some money. It was really tough and I just didn’t know what to do.”
Racing Welfare’s charity housing provider, Racing Homes, was able to offer Jess safe and affordable accommodation at Old Maltongate; the organisation’s property in Malton specifically for young people starting out in racing.
Jess said: “I would have been homeless and would have ended up going back home if it hadn’t been for Racing Welfare giving me somewhere affordable and safe to live. They’ve been brilliant and given me support to help me pay my rent and when things were really tough, they made a referral to the local food bank for me as well as giving me food vouchers.
“It’s been really tough but Racing Welfare has helped me so much. I’ve been in a bad situation but there are others who are worse off than me – I realise just how lucky I am.”
Racing Welfare also arranged physiotherapy rehabilitation for Jess, paying for her to attend sessions at the Injured Jockeys Fund rehab centre – Jack Berry House.
The following trainers opened their gates so visitors could meet the horses and see what a day-in-the-life entails at racing yards: Ruth Carr, Mick and David Easterby, Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey, Roger Fell and Sean Murray, Suzzanne France, Adrian Keatley, Craig Lidster, Fionn McSharry, Adrian Nicholls, Ollie Pears, John and Sean Quinn and Mike Sowersby.
A number of those trainers had runners at the YorkMix Family Sunday meeting including Craig Lidster, Adrian Nicholls, Ruth Carr, Tim Easterby and Richard Fahey, who all saw runners placed in races that day.
Beck Edmunds, Racing Welfare Regional Community Executive, said: “We’re delighted with the success of this year’s event. Everyone involved from visitors, to trainers, to yard staff to organisers to volunteers, all had a great day and came together to share their love of the racehorse while raising vital funds for Racing Welfare, the racing industry’s human welfare charity.”
Venetia Wrigley, Racing Welfare Trustee and Malton Open Day Committee Chair, said: “I would like to thank all those supporters of Racing Welfare for coming to the Malton Open Day – despite the very dubious weather, the atmosphere was good and the yards welcomed everyone with open arms. The biggest thank you must go to the trainers who so kindly opened their yards and their staff who made all our visitors feel so welcome and answered all their questions. The highlights included John Fairley’s talk about his wonderful mare Highfield Princess and the display of her trophies, the homemade cakes and gleaming horses at Mikey Sowersby’s hidden gem of a yard, a trip with Ruth Carr on her tractor and trailer as well as the incredible facilities and banter from Richard Fahey and Robin O’Ryan at Musley Bank.”