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21 May 2024

RACING LEGENDS AND GOLF ENTHUSIASTS TEE OFF FOR RACING WELFARE TO RAISE MORE THAN £30K

Racing legends and golf enthusiasts have raised an impressive £32,365 for Racing Welfare, the racing industry’s human welfare charity, by taking part in a prestigious golf event.

Racing Welfare hosted their Charity Golf Day on Tuesday 7th May at the Dukes Course at Woburn Golf Club, by kind invitation of His Grace, the Duke of Bedford, with this year’s event raising £7k more than the previous year.

Racing Welfare is the racing industry’s human welfare charity which provides vital advice, guidance and practical support to people working in racing yards, studs, racecourses, and associated professions. The Woburn Golf Day is a key event in the charity’s calendar; helping to raise much-needed funds and awareness of the services they provide.

The event had an impressive array of celebrities taking part including seven-time Champion Jockey, broadcaster and author John Francome MBE, Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey and racing broadcaster Mick Fitzgerald and racing broadcaster Mike Cattermole.

Speaking at the event, racing legend, John Francome, said: “I’ll never be a legend of golf – I’m not even sure I’ve had a par so far! It’s a good fun day and obviously it’s for a good charity. They do a lot of good for a lot of people.”

Mick Fitzgerald said: “This charity Racing Welfare does so much good for people who are less fortunate than ourselves who work in the racing industry. There’s a lot of people out there who need help and one of the great things about having Racing Welfare is they know where to go and they can knock on the door and no matter how big or how small their request is it’ll be answered, and I think that’s all you can ask for really.”

Mike Cattermole said: “It gets so much support this day, and rightly so – we always look forward to it. Everybody’s in a good mood when they turn up here to raise money for Racing Welfare – what better reason to play a round of golf!”

Dan Skelton’s team were the overall winners, and Dan was also the winning individual on the day. Bentley Cambridge sponsored the Closest the Pin competition on hole 12, with a Fortnum and Mason hamper with some additional Bentley goodies and a pair of crystal champagne glasses, which was won by Mick Fitzgerald.

The Putting Competition – where competitors had to navigate a 40-foot putt by getting the ball as close to the hole as possible without holing it – was won by Wayne Dunkley who won a 3 ball to YGTs Founder Series Day at Royal St George’s, which was kindly supplied by The Albatross Club.

The Straightest Drive competition, which was sponsored by Baker Brothers Diamonds with a prize of a Baker Brothers Diamonds voucher and a pair of crystal champagne glasses, was won by Richard Taylor.

The Baker Brothers Diamonds sponsored Hole in One competition, where a £50k prize fund had been on offer for the winner, went unclaimed.

Racing Welfare would like to thank the above sponsors as well as Rewards 4 Racing, NARS, Betway, At The Races and Mizuno for their support of the day.

 A total of 26 teams, comprising four players, took part in the event which included 18 holes on the Dukes course.

The celebrities, who very kindly attended the Racing Welfare Woburn Golf Day on Tuesday 7th May, were:

  • Josh Apiafi, Rewards4Racing boss and Sky Sports Racing presenter.
  • Mike Cattermole, Racing broadcaster.
  • Mick Fitzgerald, Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey and racing broadcaster.
  • Rhys Flint, National Hunt trainer based in Bridgend Wales and former National Hunt Jockey.
  • John Francome, 7-time Champion Jockey, broadcaster and author.
  • Warren Greatrex, National Hunt trainer based in Lambourn.
  • Olly Murphy, National Hunt trainer based in Warwickshire.
  • Rishi Persad, Racing broadcaster.
  • Dan Skelton, National Hunt trainer based in Warwickshire.

“We’re absolutely delighted by the amount raised at the event which is magnificent. Woburn golf day is such an important event in our fundraising calendar and this year was no exception, with great generosity shown by participants and sponsors alike. “We’d like to thank His Grace, the Duke of Bedford, for the kind invitation to host our golf day at the stunning location of Woburn Golf Club. The weather was glorious, there were smiles all round and an impressive sum was raised to ensure Racing Welfare can continue to deliver vital advice, guidance and practical support to racing’s people.”

Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare Chief Executive