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York Racecourse features prominently in Racing Together, Horseracing and the Community Report

York Racecourse features prominently in Racing Together, a report on the role of horse racing in the community newly published by the sport’s governing body, the British Horseracing Authority.

The first study of its kind, it charted the role of racing in the community and reports positive news on support for charities, young people and environmental issues; with York Racecourse prominent in several ways.

Jon Ryan, BHA Director of Communications, said: “The role that York racecourse plays in the community is quite rightly highlighted in the new report Racing Together. Whether through their work on ensuring that the course is truly green, or playing host to the first Prince’s Trust raceday experience for youngsters from Bradford , William Derby and his tremendous team lead the way and are a shining example to other courses.

Racing is a hugely important part of British life and contributes a huge amount not least in the charity work through racedays and again York leads with way with over £4 million raised through the Macmillan Charity Day.”

The report notes that of the 180 charity racedays run by the 60 racecourses each year, York’s Macmillan Charity dinner and raceday in June 2008 raised the most and contributed £257,000 to principally cancer-related charities playing a major part in an industry wide contribution of at least £1.8 million raised by charity racedays each year. York charities such as St Leonard’s Hospice and York Against Cancer have been direct beneficiaries of the £4.5 million raised by the York charity raceday since 1971.

As host to the first Racing Experience Day in conjunction with the Prince’s Trust’s “Sports United” initiative, twelve students from Buttershall Business & Enterprise College in Bradford took part in the project which showed the opportunities that exist within the sport. The students got a behind-the-scenes access to show what different jobs make up a day at the races, including a Q&A session on the demands of being an elite sportsman with former champion jockey Kevin Darley, met a real racehorse and a had trip to the Stewards Room with Gold Cup winning rider Robert Earnshaw.

The report goes on to give evidence of support for local communities, often in unsung circumstances. York receives honourable mentions as an active member of the community from its loan of the stands as a base for the National Blood Transfusion team to offering a training venue for specialist teams in the fire service, police dog unit training and the Close Protection Team.   The roof of the Ebor Stands also hosts a communications aerial for the emergency services in York.

A key trend identified in the report is the growing role of racing in improving environmental practices. York Racecourse is highlighted as a case study noting a number of initiatives that have been introduced by the course. Solar panels are used to heat the water in the Knavesmire Stand, whilst a new borehole provides up to 6.3m gallons as a sustainable water supply which can be used to irrigate the course. On a raceday every effort is made to source food locally being mindful of food miles, also ensuring its freshness, whilst glass recycling on racedays amounts to an average of ten tons per day.

Tony Lee, both Operations Manager and Community Liaison Officer at York Racecourse said; ‘We are proud of York Racecourse’s involvement within our community on many levels and delighted that across the racing industry there are so many initiatives and good work ongoing at racecourses and that this report recognises their proud achievements.’