About Us & Why?
We are passionate about horseracing and through our various connections, Graham Arnold & Ian Griffiths from The Racing Info Bureau decided the time was right to support the industry that gives so many people so much pleasure. The people that deserve this the most in these very testing times are the racing stables and stable staff.
The sport we love has suffered badly during the COVID-19 pandemic and racing yards up and down the country have landed on very hard times due to the countrywide shutdown of our sport. We are raising money through here, to support this section of the industry because it will take our great sport a long time to recover from this pandemic. Racing behind closed doors may return soon but yards and stable staff will still see reduced income levels for some time to come.
We will be doing this through our charity partnership with Racing Welfare.
Racing Welfare supports the workforce of the British horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry. They give professional guidance and support to the dedicated stud, stable and support staff whose work is vital for the well-being of our sport.
What we are all facing is unprecedented and could have a lasting impact on the British horseracing industry. We know that this is a very challenging and uncertain time for everyone, and for Racing Welfare the financial impact has been severe. They are experiencing a significant drop in income as fundraising events and activities have had to be cancelled and with no idea when they might be able to start them up again. They are therefore looking at a loss of fundraising income in 2020 of around £500,000 at the present time. This is where we will seek to help through this campaign.
Please follow the link to see the great work Racing Welfare does.
www.racingwelfare.co.uk
All of what is donated will be given directly to Racing Welfare to benefit the teams of people that give us such great enjoyment.
Thank you and please give whatever you can afford, as it all helps no matter how much.
Additionally, as well as the donations, we will have two horses in training, one in the UK with dual-purpose trainer Rebecca Menzies & one in Ireland with the young, upcoming, Katy Brown. These will be funded by selling 100 shares in each them of them at an affordable level to all.
Click here to find out more.
The profits made from this and any prize money earned will also be going back into "4 Racing v COVID -19". By having a horse running for the benefit of Racing Welfare we hope to keep on giving for the benefit of those that Racing Welfare support.
Ian Griffiths & Graham Arnold -
The Racing Info Bureau
OUR BRAND AMBASSADORS
Rebecca Menzies
We are thrilled to have Rebecca as our Brand Ambassador. Here are a few words from Rebecca:
"The Racing Industry has already suffered greatly due to the Covid19 outbreak, the effects of which will undoubtedly carry on for a long time to come. I'm really looking forward to working with those behind the new initiative '4 Racing v COVID 19' which has been set up to work in conjunction with Racing Welfare; to raise much-needed funds for those associated with the sport who need it most during this very challenging time."
~ Rebecca Menzies, April 2020
Katy Brown
Katy is a young, ambitious Irish trainer and we are delighted to have her as an official Brand Ambassador of 4Racing v COVID 19.
Katy is originally from Yorkshire and come from a racing background, her father Joey was a flat jockey and served his apprenticeship with Ian Balding. Her mum was racing secretary to Sue and Harvey Smith and always kept horses. She competed in both showing and showjumping when younger, but was bitten by the racing bug and started her career with 'Sprint King' Dandy Nichols.
In 2008, Katy decided to move to Ireland and worked for Paddy Twomey riding out and preparing horses for the breeze-up sales. She was also head girl/travelling head girl to Sabrina Harty for a number of years and held an amateur jockeys licence.
In January 2017, she decided to take the plunge and set up training for herself and was rewarded with her first winner not long after, which was conveniently at her home track of Wetherby.
Katy trains on the Curragh where the training facilities are second to none.
Last year, was her best so far, with 5 winners and numerous placings under both codes from a very small number of runners.
This year with a string of 20, good quality horses and a good support network of owners and staff, she is really looking forward to the up and coming season and believe she has some exciting prospects on her hands.
Derek 'Tommo' Thompson
Well known TV Racing Commentator Derek 'Tommo' Thompson is also an official Brand Ambassador of 4Racing v COVID 19.
Derek Thompson is a presenter and commentator of horse racing on Radio Five Live and At the Races in Britain.
He attended Guisborough Grammar School and gave his first commentary - on a point-to-point meeting - at the age of 15.
His broadcasting career began at the age of 18 on local radio. In 1972 he was based in London working for BBC Radio Sport, for whom he covered a number of Grand Nationals alongside Peter Bromley, Michael Seth-Smith and Michael O'Hehir.
In 1981, he moved to ITV, where he appeared on World of Sport and midweek racing coverage. In 1985, he joined the newly formed Channel 4 Racing team as a presenter. He was also part of a team of three who helped to negotiate for the release of the kidnapped Epsom Derby winner Shergar. Tommo also commentates for At The Races and was a regular on talkSPORT radio.
We are delighted to have Tommo backing our campaign.
