Events at Racecourses

 ...or related to Racing!

December
Christmas Events at Sedgefield Racecourse

Register before 18 December 2009 for 10 July 2010
Ascot Racecourse and Windsor Great Park
Horses For Heroes Ride


Ascot Racecourse and The HPower Group are delighted to launch 'Horses For Heroes', which will see 2010 horses ridden from Ascot Racecourse, round Windsor Great Park and back to the racecourse before racing begins on Saturday, 10 July, 2010.
 
The initiative sets out to bring together horses and riders from across the equine spectrum and aims to raise at least £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity, whose founder Bryn Parry said:
 
“Help for Heroes is all about people doing their bit for our wounded heroes. Horses have always supported our servicemen and women so it is wonderful that the equestrian and racing world is jumping into the saddle with such enthusiasm. Remember, it’s the first 2010 riders to sign up who will get the chance to be part of this piece of history and the website to log onto to do just that iswww.horses4heroes.co.uk”
 
Registrations for the ride are now being taken and must be made by Friday, 18 December, 2009. Each rider is required to commit to raising a minimum of £500 in sponsorship.
 
“Ascot is delighted to be playing its part in this wonderful initiative,” said Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse.
 
“Our special thanks must go to the Crown Estate for embracing the concept and assisting with the route planning through Windsor Great Park. Equally, this wouldn’t be possible without the flexibility shown by the Royal Ascot Golf Club, whose activities will be affected for a short period. I can’t wait to ride in the event myself – I’ll probably be amongst the first out so that I can get back to the racecourse in time to prepare for opening to the public. It’ll be a tremendous thrill to see so many people from the worlds of racing and equestrian sport, participants in hunts and Pony Club riders and many, many more, filing up the finishing straight at Ascot in aid of this most worthwhile cause.”
 
Toni Terry, aspiring dressage rider and wife of England and Chelsea Captain John Terry, and Lieutenant Guy Disney, amateur rider for Nicky Henderson, who lost a leg serving in Helmand Province, were at Ascot to formally launch Horses For Heroes. 
 
Toni, who trains at Oldenfield Equestrian Centre and is currently preparing to perform at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, in a specially choreographed pas de deux with 16 times national champion, Vicki Thompson-Winfield, said:
 
“I am working hard to achieve the highest levels of dressage and I admire hugely the dedication of the riders that I aspire to emulate, but such dedication is nothing compared to what our brave soldiers demonstrate every day in the face of extreme danger. When I heard about the opportunity to be involved in promoting something that brought the diverse horse world together to do our bit for the armed forces, I jumped at the chance.”
 
Guy added: “I can think of few professions that encapsulate the same values of professionalism and dedication more than being a soldier and race riding, and there is a long association between racing and the armed forces, including military races under rules in which I have been lucky enough to compete. Working with the racing and equestrian community to raise such an ambitious sum for Help For Heroes feels like a very natural partnership.”
 
Other celebrity support has been forthcoming from actor Martin Clunes and presenter Anthea Turner, who are both keen horse riders and are looking forward to taking part in the event. Visitwww.horses4heroes.co.uk to view a special video message from Martin himself.

19 & 20 December
Aintree Racecourse - International Equestrian Centre
Fearn's Farm Unaffiliated Dressage Championships 2009
For more info see www.aintreeequestriancentre.co.uk

4 March 2010
Wincanton racecourse
Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening

Don't miss this Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening in association with Coral Bookmakers.

The evening, commencing at 7pm, will be hosted by Channel 4 Racing’s favourite female - Alice Plunkett - with Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls, at the helm of a star-studded panel. Other guests will be confirmed in the New Year.

• Tickets cost £15 per person and include a buffet dinner and a free £25 Coral’s betting voucher
• Tickets can be purchased on 01963 32344. Line is open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
  

4 March 2010
Royal Society in London
The National Equine Forum

The National Equine Forum (NEF) to be held on Thursday 4 March 2010 at the Royal Society in London, will include leading speakers on the subjects of equine art and history in direct response to suggestions received from delegates at this year’s event. The Horse in Painting and the Museum of the Horse will provide a broader perspective to the Forum's characteristically sharp focus on current political, veterinary, educational and sporting matters presented by experts in their field.

The new art and history spot will be led by John Stainton, International Director for Sporting Art at Christies, who will present an insight into the role of the horse in painting. Caroline Anns-Baldock will follow with a review of the UK's new and first-ever museum of the horse.
 
Ben Mayes MRCVS will discuss the licensing of UK horse establishments, including sanctuaries and then the Swedish researcher Carolina Liljenstolpe will take a wider view with a report on her recent study on the role of the horse in Europe.
 
In the veterinary spot Dr Mark Hillyer MRCVS will explore the development of systems to endoscope galloping horses, Dr Pat Harris MRCVS will examine nutrition and gastric ulceration and Professor Chris Proudman FRCVS will take a revealing look at the changing tactics on the management of worms.
 
The winner of the Eqvalan equine undergraduate thesis of the year will present the winning paper, which will be announced in November and then Dr Madeleine Campbell MRCVS, will explore the legalities, logistics and welfare issues of the various methods of identifying horses.
 
On the subject of equestrian sport the British Paralympic dressage chef d’equipe David Hunter will look at training for world-class Paralympics. The popular topical spot in the afternoon will cover the control of exotic diseases and equine flu as well as the training and regulation of paraprofessionals.
 
With the General Election expected shortly after the Forum, it is hoped that both the Minister for Food, Farming and Environment and the Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs will attend to give their views on such controversial topics as HGV driving hours for full-time workers, the horse tax needed to part-fund the Animal Health Agency, and the Hunting Act.
 
Renowned as the equestrian networking opportunity of the year the NEF brings together invited leaders from every corner of the equestrian industry to enjoy entertaining, educational presentations and discussions in a prestigious setting. The NEF is well-known for tackling its diverse programme with non-partisan vigour. Participation from the floor is actively encouraged to generate healthy debate. This is one of many aspects that have made the Forum highly popular with paying delegates from the industry.
 
John Stainton said: “I am delighted to be invited to speak at one of the British equestrian industry’s most important occasions. The horse has always been a key subject in sporting art and through the work of British artists such as Stubbs, Landseer and Munnings I hope to engage the audience in an informative and visually exciting presentation.”
 
The National Equine Forum is chaired by Professor Sir Colin Spedding and is convened by Miles Williamson-Noble. It is usually attended by HRH The Princess Royal, its President, and is supported by the ABRS, BETA, BEF, BHS, BHA, The Blue Cross, Dodson & Horrell, The Donkey Sanctuary, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Jeffress Scholarship Trust, NFU Mutual, South Essex Insurance Brokers, The Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare.

There are a limited number of tickets available for equestrian trade delegates and equestrian professionals at a cost of £100 per person. To apply please contact the Hon Secretary, Mrs Tracy Lepkowska, at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell, Warwick, CV35 9BL email   tlepkowska@warkscol.ac.uk. For further information on the NEF visit www.bef.co.uk  

19-21 March 2010
Royal Windsor Racecourse

The 2010 British Leisure Show

Set on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of Berkshire, the Royal Windsor Racecourse will be hosting an impressive display of Cars, Motorbikes, Boats, Motorhomes, Caravans and Holiday Homes in March 2010, with a fantastic range of inter-active features for families to enjoy a great-value day out.

 TO LIST YOUR EVENT ON THIS PAGE SEND DETAILS TO CONTRIBUTE@ECLIPSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK. EVENTS MUST BE HELD AT RACECOURSES, OR, AT OTHER VENUES BUT RELATED TO HORSES/RACING