Welcome to another blog from the team at Pontefract Racecourse.
Every fortnight, someone from the team will share their thoughts for your entertainment (or otherwise!):
- Managing Director, Norman Gundill with his trusty PA, Caroline who also looks after the hospitality,
- Accounts Manager, Nicola,
- Admin manager, Carol,
- Marketing exec, Alexia, who is writing this blog, and,
- Chief Operating Officer, Richard
As you may well know, at Pontefract Racecourse over the years we have built a great relationship with the charity New Beginnings. New Beginnings, based just outside of York, rehome and retrain former racehorses. They provide a safe supportive environment for former racehorses to adapt and learn new skills after they have finished their first career in racing.
We have worked closely with Pam, Kev and the team at the yard for a while now, they have been bringing their horses to the Racecourse for over 10 years! You will often see them at one of our Sunday meetings with Nico, the Racecourses Equine Ambassador.
After a staff visit to the yard in 2023 we were all keen to be able to do as much as we possibly could to help New Beginnings and the horses.
As a result, we launched a new initiative to help support New Beginnings. The aim was to raise not only funds but to showcase the wonderful work they do in helping thoroughbreds in the next stage of their career.
In January of this year, we launched our ‘Twelve Months Of Giving’ campaign. The idea was that each month we would focus on a different fundraising activity.
So as the year draws to a close, lets take a look back at what we got up to!
We got things started with a staff visit to lend a hand around the yard.
Our groundstaff got stuck in with digging up the concrete floor in one of the outbuildings which was in the process of being totally transformed. This building is now used as an Education Hub!
In February we had another team trip to the yard to take part in Horse Awareness Training. Then after catching up with Nico and handing out lots of polos, we got stuck into some painting.
In March some of our annual badge holders were lucky enough to go on a behind the scenes tour of New Beginnings, meeting lots of horses and finding out more about the work that takes place.
In April ahead of the start of the season, we set up the option to add on a voluntary donation to New Beginnings when purchasing tickets online. All funds raised through the voluntary donations at checkout go directly to help support New Beginnings, enabling them to continue their great work. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Over the summer months New Beginnings visited the Racecourse introducing racegoers to Nico, Remy and Poppy the pony! You will find them at each of our Sunday meetings, located on the Marquee Site, just to the left of the Parade Ring. There you can meet not only the equine stars, but Pam, Kev and some of the team and find out more about the day to day work involved in looking after and retraining the horses.
As part of the campaign, the Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract welcomed some very special guests. Pontefract racecourse Equine Ambassador, Nico and former racehorse, Remy, visited the hospice to meet with staff and patients. It was incredible to see the staff and patients interacting with the horses and witnessing first hand the powerful impact racehorses have on people. We look forward to taking the horses back to the hospice to create more special memories for staff and patients alike.
In Autumn we headed up to yard again to help add the fishing touches to the new Education Hub ready for its opening. We also met the newest addition to the New Beginnings family, the goats!
As the year comes to an end, for December we look forward to welcoming the New Beginnings team to the Racecourse for their Christmas Party, enjoying a well deserved night off. Have a lovely time!
We look forward to another year working with New Beginnings.
As this will be the last blog before Christmas, all the team at Pontefract wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!