19th August 2013:

Well we did it!  We didn’t just turn up, but by a small miracle we actually won the Hambro Racing Welfare Charity Race.  'Ronnie' cut a bit of a dash in the race and was travelling well three out when Kimberley Goldstein (a Victoria Beckham lookalike no less) made her bid for glory, momentarily heading him.  I don't know whether it was the weeks of working out or me shouting at him but, after getting distracted by all the supporters for a second, First Class remembered where he was, duly asserted and won by a length.   A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me, to Brian and Elaine Cooper for letting me ride First Class; on the fitness front Yariv Kam and Michael Tebbutt from the British Racing School and boxer Pat McAleese (the torturer) and of course Rae for training the horse and putting up with me moaning on about it for months.  Thank you.  And just look at how much money we have raised for Racing Welfare!

Here’s a picture of us in the winner’s enclosure.  Pictured left to right, me, First Class, Ali, Elaine Cooper, Charlie Guest, Brian Cooper, Rae and Paul Moroney. 

14th August 2013:

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored and supported me to help me reach my sponsorship goal.  As everyone who works with me knows, I don’t mind exceeding a target, so there’s no need to stop now!  It’s quite a relief to reach it though so thank you very much.  Preparation for the day continues and more thanks must go to Michael Tebbutt at the British Racing School who has been helping me with my fitness and what we loosely call riding ‘style’.  Final training session with Pat McAleese was yesterday and a course walk with Rae.  Wow, that is a long straight mile.  Let’s hope that I get wings from the loan of Fran Ferris’s saddle.  

 

8th August 2013:

Just 9 days to go and I am creeping closer to my fundraising goal.  Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me.  Think of Rae's Dad Charlie whizzing round town on his mobility scooter and say thanks to Racing Welfare.  Just started to get details of the other riders this week - there are nine.  Most have had rides in charity races, a new experience for me.  Amy Starkey tells me that the plan is to run the race before racing if the ground stays as it is.  That's a relief as I will be able to enjoy the rest of the day with you all afterwards.  Boxer Pat McAleese has been helping with the fitness and I was nearly sick during training yesterday.  Yuck.  One day closer.

A Brief Update:

Just 17 days to go now and I am really wondering why I said I would do this.  On Monday I had a call from the Newmarket Journal who are very kindly doing an interview with me.  Argh.  What have I said?

Meanwhile my trusty steed Ronnie (aka First Class or occasionally Lurch) scowls at me determinedly every time I walk past.  I am not sure that he likes me at all – or many other people come to think of it.   We had a job getting him to put his ears forward for the Journal photographer.  He ran pretty well at Lingfield at the weekend to be third.  To be fair to him he is very consistent when conditions are right, although whether I can succeed where Martin Lane and Hayley Turner have not, I very much doubt.   Ronnie’s extremely gracious owner/breeders Brian and Elaine Cooper have kindly allowed me to ride him so an enormous thank you to them.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Saturday 17th August I am taking part in a charity race over a mile of Newmarkets famous July racecourse to raise money for Racing Welfare, a charity that helps anyone working in, or retired from the racing and breeding industry in the UK at times of need and personal crisis through the provision of specialist counselling and support services.

The number of people helped by the Charity continues to rise and the issues they face have become increasingly more varied and complex.  All welfare services are funded by charitable donations and in order to maintain them at the current level and develop those in highest demand, the Charity is greatly reliant on the generosity of its supporters.

The number of people helped by the Charity continues to rise and the issues they face have become increasingly more varied and complex.  All welfare services are funded by charitable donations and in order to maintain them at the current level and develop those in highest demand, the Charity is greatly reliant on the generosity of its supporters. 

People in racing are the un-sung heroes that deliver top quality horses and racing year after year and I hope to raise enough money to say thank you for those moments and to help those in need when they most need it.

Please give genorously to this worthwhile cause, Thank you.

Rachel Flynn