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TEN YEARS OF YORKSHIRE'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CHARITY RACE

Ten amateur jockeys have been chosen to take part in a prestigious charity horse race at York Racecourse on Saturday 11th June. The Macmillan ‘Ride of their Lives’ race, supported by Sky Bet, which started in 2012, is viewed as one of the most successful charity horse races in the UK.

The renowned race will see members of the public completing six months of intense jockey training and fundraising before racing thoroughbred horses on York’s iconic course. Now in its tenth year, each jockey is committed to raising at least £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, since the first race in 2012 past riders have raised over £1.2 million for people living with cancer. As with every year, just by attending the raceday to cheer on the riders, members of the public will be raising funds for Macmillan, as a share of revenues raised on the day is donated by the course.

The ten amateur riders selected to take part can expect to race in front of around 25,000 people in June, they include Bella Brown from York, a Visual Merchandise and Marketing Manager at renowned Department Store Browns, she is a fifth generation family member to work at the chain of Department stores based across North Yorkshire. Bella, 28, was inspired to apply after her Mum took part in the inaugural race of 2012, she said:

“As I child I watched my Mum prepare and train for the race, I felt inspired to take on the challenge myself.

I’ve ridden horses my entire life and horseracing has become a great passion of mine. I’ve been so lucky to have York Racecourse on my doorstep, in my opinion it is the greatest racecourse in the world.

Now I get to experience the thrill of racing on my home track, in front of my loved ones for an outstanding charity.

“My objective with taking part in this race is to raise a substantial amount of money that will make a positive impact on people’s lives, like many people my family has been touched by cancer, my Auntie passed away from cancer at a very young age, and my Godfather died from cancer in December, I’ll be riding in their memory and honour.”

Bella is joined by 9 other amateur riders, they are Michael Andrews, George Atkinson, Samantha Brown, Lucy Horan, Kerry Humphries, Wendy Normile, Morgan Faye Prescott, Issy Saxby and Carolyn Woods.

William Derby, Chief Executive at York Racecourse, said:

“Ten years ago, we couldn’t have predicted that the ‘Ride of Their Lives’ amateur race would grow to become one of the most successful charity horse races in the UK.

Congratulations to the twelve intrepid riders selected to take part this year, we wish them the best of luck and hope they’ll enjoy every minute of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

York Racecourse are incredibly proud of our long running partnership with Macmillan. Through tremendous support from individuals and organisations we raised a remarkable £300,000 in 2021 which included half this sum being raised by the charity race.

We are very much looking forward to Macmillan Charity Raceday on Saturday 11 June which is the biggest charity raceday in British racing and traditionally Macmillan’s biggest single fundraising event. Just by attending and supporting these riders and enjoying the wider raceday people are helping raise funds for those living with cancer.”

The Macmillan Charity Raceday at York is the oldest running charity raceday in the country, 2022 marks over 50 years of this iconic partnership, in which time over £9 million has been raised for people living with cancer. The Macmillan ‘Ride of Their Lives’ race will be the first race of the day at Macmillan’s Charity Raceday on Saturday 11 June 2022.

Megan Hayman Tansley from Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

“It takes real dedication, bravery and perseverance to put yourself forward for this challenge and at Macmillan we’re so appreciative of these ten amazing people, we wish them the best of luck.

Macmillan Cancer Support receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations – we simply couldn’t help the growing number of people who need us, without the support and generosity of the riders and their supporters.”

Racing fans can support this fabulous day of fundraising just by attending, for further information and to book tickets click here.

You can support the twelve riders by donating to their JustGiving pages here.

Take a look at the silent auction, another of the fundraising activites for the Macmillan Charity Raceday.

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