Racecourses take the lead on day of national volunteering

Racing will again be taking part in Give & Gain Day, an industry-wide Racing Together initiative that encompasses a range of community engagement work across the sport on Friday.

This year 14 courses will be taking part, as will the BHA. Its High Holborn HQ will host a group of year nine pupils from a south London school for a careers and activity day, with representatives from Racing to School, BHA, Great British Racing, Racecourse Owners Association and the Jockey Club welcoming the youngsters.

It is the third year running courses have joined forces to contribute to the day of national volunteering and includes members of the team at Chelmsford helping out at a local shelter and soup kitchen for the homeless, while staff at Sedgefield will be mucking in at the local yard of Rebecca Menzies.

“It’s fantastic to see so many racecourses donate time from their busy schedules to help out a wide range of excellent causes,” said Stephen Atkin, chief executive of the Racecourse Association.

"Racecourses have really stepped up their community engagement work in the last couple of years and this is helping to futureproof the sport by engaging with the next generation of racegoers and potential participants.”