Newmarket racing community working together to help vulnerable residents

The Newmarket racing community has joined forces with local business and council leaders to provide vital support to vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

This collaboration involves volunteers from organisations such as the Jockey Club and Godolphin, alongside the Newmarket Festival Committee, delivering essential supplies to those in need using a fleet of buses owned by Discover Newmarket.

"Everybody in our community has been affected in some way by the Covid-19 outbreak but there are those for whom the coming weeks and months are going to prove extremely difficult," said Amy Starkey, a regional director at the Jockey Club.

"All of us at the Jockey Club take our responsibility to our community very seriously and it has been incredibly heartening to see my colleagues joining together with our partners across Newmarket to find the most effective ways to help."

Ascot has taken similar measures to help its local community and on Monday the track delivered supplies to a food bank in Slough.

The track donated £3,000 worth of essential goods, ranging from tinned items of food to toiletries, and made a £3,000 donation.

Following the cancellation of its popular Spring Family Raceday, which was scheduled for Sunday, March 29, Ascot collaborated with some of the entertainers who were due to perform and produced a range of videos and activities for children to enjoy online.

Keep up to date on the must-have news, tips, photos and more by following the Racing Post across all social channels