The gloves are off: jockeys do battle in aid of charity

Nicky Mackay and Simon Pearce will go head to head on Saturday – not on the turf but in the boxing ring.

The pair are among 22 jockeys and stable staff ditching their breeches and donning the gloves to raise money for Mackay’s father and former jockey Allan, who was left paralysed from the chest down after a fall on Newmarket’s gallops. Top billing on the night goes to Godolphin’s Jack Budge, with Tom Fanshawe and Willie Carson among the others stepping through the ropes.

The fight, billed as ‘the Old School Stable Lads Boxing Night’, will be held on Saturday, November 25, at Newmarket Leisure Centre.

Tickets are sold out, but for your chance to sponsor a boxer call 07956 597466.

New racing hub

Racing Together has launched its new website, a one-stop shop to promote and reflect British racing’s community engagement activities.

The sport works in myriad ways to help those across its many communities, including through Racing to School, which leads Racing Together and has also launched a new site.

John Blake, Racing to School chief executive, said: “We will carry the voices of those who have benefited in some way from events and activities designed by racing to enrich the lives of others, whether through education, in helping the environment or reaching out to the beneficiaries of one of the UK’s many health charities who regularly interact with racing and its people.”

Coen a future star

It was a night to remember on Friday at Dundalk for apprentice Ben Coen, the 16-year-old who enjoyed his first winner aboard Timia.

The County Tipperary native has caught the eye in recent weeks under the lights at Ireland's sole all-weather venue and the accomplished pony racing rider enjoyed a memorable moment aboard Keith Clarke's charge.

A collected Coen, who claims 10lb, said: "I'm delighted. I've been getting a nice few spins and I'm going well, thankfully. Hopefully I can keep it going."

Signed on as apprentice to his uncle Andy Slattery, Coen added: "I've ridden 40 winners while pony racing."

Winning trainer Keith Clarke explained of the victory: "We had a valuable 10lb coming off with Ben. Seven furlongs is probably her ideal but a mile when ridden accordingly with confidence works well – and that lad has loads of confidence.

"He's very cool, very quiet and you'd wonder will he ever wake up but he's a good rider and he did the job right."

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