'This has been brilliant' - deaf community embraces Newbury action as Daryl Jacob guides racegoers through the day

“Do you have little holes in your ears?” was not a question I had been asked on my hundreds of trips to the races – until I visited Newbury on Saturday. 

While that starter for ten would not have registered with the thousands in attendance who were primarily at the track to watch the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes or to belt out songs from James Bay’s chart-topping album at the post-racing concert, I understood the question perfectly.

This unique observation from a spectator was not made by chance and came about because Newbury was hosting a deaf-friendly raceday, an idea from the track's partnership manager Connor Robson that led to 84 tickets being sold to members of the deaf community.

The initiative attracted me to make my first visit to the Berkshire venue since Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth landed the 2012 Hennessy. Just for good measure, Big Buck’s also struck on the same card at a time when I was a 12-year-old enjoying being taken racing by my father.

As well as a love of jump racing, I inherited from my father Branchio-oto-renal syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the ears, neck and kidneys. I have moderate hearing loss and have worn hearing aids from birth, so I was keen to see how a Group 1 track approached a deaf-friendly raceday at one of its major meetings.

Beverley received an outstanding initiative award from the Racecourse Association for hosting a deaf-friendly raceday in 2018 but there is still a feeling that courses could do more for the deaf community.

“I know it’s been done in the past but maybe not to this scale,” said Robson. “A friend of a friend called Michael went racing and he didn’t really know what was going on. I thought no-one would have an idea of what racing is about and all the technical terms if there wasn’t an interpreter there.”

Robson booked Kim Helman, Sue Merrick and Chloe Matthews from Deaf Unity to provide interpretation for the 15 or so members of the deaf community who gathered in the Paddock Bar shortly after midday, with proceedings hosted by the ever-enthusiastic Daryl Jacob.

Signing the name of the former jump jockey’s Grand National winner Neptune Collonges proved a difficult task for the interpreters as the attentive audience were taken to the saddling area and parade ring for a talk about the sport.

Tommy Oram, a local student at Mary Hare – the largest school for deaf children in Britain – was part of a family day out along with his mother Hayley and sister Sophia, who all have Branchio-oto-renal syndrome.

“Tommy goes to Mary Hare school and they emailed us saying that they can get tickets so we jumped at the chance,” said Oram’s father Peejay. “My wife’s dad is completely deaf and my wife’s mum has moderate to severe hearing loss.”

Peejay was the one who inquired about the holes, a symptom of the syndrome that impacts only one in 40,000 people in western society. “Maybe we’re related!” Hayley suggested to me.

William Buick poses with the deaf community members in the Newbury weighing roomCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

After speaking to racegoers, Jacob nipped into the weighing room to pick up the colours of Doreen Tabor, whose husband Michael is regularly seen at the races wearing hearing aids, so the group also had a chance to pose with two-time champion jockey William Buick.

Justin Evans, who wears a cochlear implant, later had Buick to thank after he guided the horse he had backed, Lieber Power, to win the second race.

“I live in Thatcham but it was the Reading Deaf Centre that promoted it on Facebook,” said Evans. “I found the tour useful.”

Jade Carpenter and Chris Oxley are not deaf but the couple from High Wycombe found the raceday a useful fact-finding mission for their three-year-old son.

“My son’s deaf and we’re just learning more about the deaf community itself,” said Carpenter. "He’s just started wearing his hearing aids and it was quite a late diagnosis.”

At the other end of the age range, I caught up with Robert Flood after he watched the third race via a specially designed platform in front of the Dubai Duty Free stand with live interpretation of the race commentary. An interpreter was also shown on the screen during Bay’s concert.

Kim Helman (left) and Sue Merrick of Deaf Unity Agency provide a running commentary of the Autumn Cup won by Lieber PowerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“This has been brilliant,” the 63-year-old from Salisbury said. “I haven’t been here for a very long time.

"I think 20 years ago was the last time I went to Salisbury with my parents. I’ve been to Brighton, Yarmouth and this is the third time I’ve been here. I’ve also been to Ascot three times, it’s good but I feel like this is a lot better. You’ve got the screens too, which really helps.”

Reflecting on the afternoon, Jacob said: “I’ve never worked with deaf people before. I find it really interesting. It’s great to get them involved. What I like about it most is to see their enthusiasm, their smiles. They’re really grasping it and they’re really taking it in and that makes me feel good.

“We need to sell racing in a positive frame because we want young children and people with disabilities coming in. It’s a great day out.”

As a young racegoer with hearing loss, I share Jacob’s sentiments and also those of Robson, who summed up the day perfectly: “These small changes will make a big difference. Racing is such a traditional sport and we need to be seen to be forward-thinking."

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