Racing community 'pulls together amazingly' in memory of Dyson head girl

A cheque for more than £100,000 will be presented to the Midlands Air Ambulance at Stratford on Thursday after a poignant fundraising campaign in memory of groom Charlotte Cole.

Cole, head girl for Worcestershire trainer Claire Dyson, died in a gallops accident at the age of 23 in 2011.

Dyson and Cole’s parents Roger and Diane have raised funds for the charity in many ways over the years, including annually sponsoring a race at Stratford, with the third race (2.40) named the Charlotte Cole Memorial Handicap Chase on Thursday afternoon.

Dyson, who also sponsors the opening conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle on the seven-race card, said: “It was so tragic to lose Charlotte 11 years ago and it was the Midlands Air Ambulance who took her from the gallops to hospital, where she survived for two days and that enabled her wish to donate her organs to be fulfilled.

“Charlotte was a really good kid, did everything around the yard and was really hard working. She lived and breathed horses and would have had a great career in racing.

'The racing industry has been fantastic'

“We started raising money to pay for her air ambulance that day – we thought it would be a nice thing to do – and it has taken off from there. We’ve had open days, cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End, jumped out of planes, done zipwires and all sorts.

“The racing industry has been fantastic – jockeys have been great in providing signed breeches and photos, the Hales family have brought Neptune Collonges down to our open days and Roger Brookhouse and Max McNeill have very kindly donated prize-money after winning Charlotte’s race.

“We’ve had another push to raise money this year after Covid got in the way and it’s been done in the right way. The racing community has pulled together amazingly. People have been very, very generous.”

Dyson will be doing a bucket collection at Stratford, while anyone else wishing to donate can do so by emailing and giving the reference Charlotte Cole.

Read this next . . .

'He was a lovely man' - tributes paid to West Country trainer Gerald Cottrell

Download the new Racing Post app here to read exclusive content from the biggest names. There are brilliant betting masterclasses from Tom Segal, Paul Kealy and David Jennings, Q&As with pro punters, trainers and jockeys, plus much more. Download the new app now to access all of this unrivalled content.