CYCLISTS WITH A PASSION FOR RACING ARE GEARING UP FOR GREAT RACING WELFARE CYCLE CHALLENGE
Cyclists with a passion for the racing industry are making their final preparations ready for a 24-hour cycling event which takes place at the home of horseracing this weekend (20-21 July) in aid of Racing Welfare.
The Great Racing Welfare Cycle, which will use the town’s Rowley Mile Racecourse as its base, will see teams of 4-8 cycling over a 24-hour period completing laps of a planned 32km route around the town and surrounding villages. Starting at 12pm on Saturday 20th July, the event finishes at 12pm on Sunday 21st July followed by a BBQ and celebration for all cyclists and their families.
Participants signed-up to the challenge include a team from the Newmarket practice of international equine veterinary business Baker McVeigh. Having dedicated their careers to looking after the welfare of horses, they are now switching their focus to the welfare of racing industry staff as they get on their bikes to raise funds for horseracing’s human welfare charity.
Team Member Jenny Owen, who is a vet at Baker McVeigh’s Newmarket practice, said: “As a team, racing is a such big part of all of our lives, and this has motivated us to want to give something back to the industry we love.
“All of us at Baker McVeigh see on a day-to-day basis the long hours staff put in and just how hard they work, but our team also includes acquaintances from training yards and studs, so we all have a shared understanding of the racing industry.
“Racing Welfare is dedicated to helping those in need and we want to do all we can to support them. We’ve been out practicing the route in preparation for the event and are looking forward to the challenge.”
As well as getting in the saddle herself, Jenny will also be joined by:
- Antony Clements – Managing Partner of Baker McVeigh Newmarket Practice
- Joshua Alcock – Vet at Baker McVeigh Newmarket Practice
- Pippa Mungle – Office Assistant at Baker McVeigh Newmarket Practice
- James Owen – Trainer at James Owen Racing, Hamilton Road, Newmarket
- Robert Speers – Manager of Old Mill Stud, Chippenham
- Issy Paul – Assistant Trainer to William Haggas at Somerville Lodge, Fordham Road and regular rider for Dubai Honor.
- Mark Howlett – team friend and cycling enthusiast.
The Baker McVeigh team also hosted a quiz at The Yard pub in Newmarket on Tuesday 16th July, which was attended by almost 100 people, and raised an impressive £1,362.80 towards their fundraising total.
International thoroughbred horse racing and breeding enterprise Juddmonte, will also be represented at the event, as Jake Woolf who works at their Mertoun Paddocks facility in Newmarket, is taking part with friends Gareth Godfrey, Hayden Marsh and Dominic Edge-Bovair, all of whom have local connections to Newmarket and are keen to support Racing Welfare.
Jake is a long-standing supporter of Racing Welfare and took part in the inaugural Great Racing Welfare Cycle which took place at Cheltenham Racecourse in 2022. A father of two, with baby number three on the way as his wife Laura due to give birth next month (August 2024), Jake particularly values the services Racing Welfare provides as his eldest son has benefitted from them.
Jake said: “We’re really looking forward to getting out on the bikes in aid of Racing Welfare as the charity does such a great job in supporting the industry. My son has benefitted from support from the charity’s welfare team when he needed some help and guidance, so I’ve seen first-hand the difference it makes.
“We’re all keen cyclists in our team and some members have a serious pedigree on the bike so I’m sure we’ll have a great time and get plenty of laps in during the 24 hours.
“I took part in the Cheltenham event two years ago, but this one is much closer to home – the route goes right past my house and it’s flatter too which should all help!”
Thanks to the generosity of his employers Juddmonte, Jake has managed to secure an opportunity for six people to meet Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud in Cheveley. The prize also includes a picnic lunch at Branches Park Estate, Cowlinge, and Jake is offering a ticket for a chance to win, for every £50 donated to his team’s Justgiving fundraising page with a total of 50 tickets available. To be in with a chance of meeting Frankel, people are being asked to donate £50 via the team’s Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/teamgreen-racing-welfare-cycling-challenge. They will then be allocated a ticket number at random and the draw will take place after the Great Racing Welfare Cycle event has been completed.
Teams are making their final preparations ready for the Great Racing Welfare Cycle event which takes place this weekend and we’re delighted to have team Baker McVeigh and Juddmonte on board. Both teams have been inspired to support the event, having seen the positive difference Racing Welfare’s services makes to the racing community, and I hope their dedication inspires others to sponsor their efforts. Thanks again to everyone taking part and to all our event sponsors who help to make the Great Racing Welfare Cycle challenge possible.
Racing Welfare’s Chief Operating Officer Gemma Waterhouse said
To support the cyclists in their epic challenge, text 2024CYCLE to 70470 to donate £10. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear from us, please text 2024CYCLENOINFO instead.