31st May 2005
Race goers at Goodwood are being offered the chance to back horses of a very different kind when the racecourse hosts the national Courses for Horses fundraising initiative launched by the Brooke, the world’s leading charity for the welfare of working horses.
As well as betting on races, punters attending Goodwood’s evening races on Friday 10 June will be asked to dig deep in their pockets to help the millions of working equine animals toiling in developing nations.
Throughout the evening race goers will learn about Brooke’s work overseas with the showing of a 30 second big screen ad featuring Sir Peter O’Sullevan and John Francome, and can meet ‘Abbla’ – a very realistic and moving horse costume, representing the work of a brick kiln horse in a developing country.
Also meeting ‘Abbla’ will be TV presenter and horse enthusiast Anthea Turner who says: “My sister Wendy and I saw the Brooke tending sick and injured horses in Egypt and India. I’ll never forget the number of animals that came to them with horrifying open sores, caused by ill-fitting saddles. But my enduring memory is of the care given by the charity’s vets to such brave and faithful creatures – and their owner’s delight when they were made well again.”
Courses for Horses is set to become one of the dates in the racing and equestrian calendar, and fundraising events will be held throughout the UK during May and June, culminating in national Courses for Horses Day on 11 June.
The Brooke runs a network of mobile veterinary teams and veterinary field clinics in developing countries reaching 500,000 animals in need every year. Money raised by Courses for Horses will help the Brooke extend its reach from half a million to five million equine animals that desperately need help in the developing world.
Leading equestrian and racing figures have all given their support to Courses for Horses – including Sir Peter O’Sullevan CBE, John Francome, Champion Jump Jockey AP McCoy and world class equestrian champions Pippa Funnell and Leslie Law.
Mike Baker, Brooke’s Chief Executive says: “The Brooke hopes that everyone who has ever had anything to do with horses will want to support Courses for Horses. Money raised from the initiative will help the Brooke extend its reach from half a million to five million equine animals that desperately need help in the developing world.”
Editors Notes:
Courses for Horses is being supported by: British Equestrian Trade Association, the British Equestrian Federation, The Jockey Club, British Horseracing Board, the Racecourse Association, Racehorse Owners Association, and all members of the Horseracing Industry Committee and also The Racing Post, Horse & Rider Magazine, PONY Magazine, Equestrian Trade News.
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