How racing rallied round to raise funds as well as spirits in a time of crisis

High and low, rich and poor, north and south – across the board people in racing came together to offer their time, effort and money to support good causes as the nation wrestled with Covid-19. David Carr recalls the best of those achievements

Virtual Grand National

Racing's most high-profile fundraising effort during the Covid-19 shutdown was the virtual Grand National, with 4.8 million locked-down ITV viewers watching Nick Luck and Stewart Machin bring an animated version of the great race to life.

Potters Corner came home in front for Christian Williams and young jockey Jack Tudor – who might not have been eligible had the National taken place for real – but the real winner was the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, which received more than £2.6 million after bookmakers donated their profits.