News

Raise Funds for BTRC By Joining the Virtual Balloon Race

🎈Tickets available now for our Virtual Balloon Race🎈 A fun, interactive way of helping BTRC raise funds…
To support us, you can take part in the Halloween Race. Buy a virtual balloon for just £3, between now and the start date, using the blue tab at the bottom of this page. You can even gift balloons to your friends and family! The race starts 31st October 2023 at 12pm. The race will be 7 days long and the winning balloon is the one that has flown the furthest, as measured in a straight line from the launch location.

You will be able to name, decorate and alter the parameters of your balloon which will effect how it flies. The race uses real weather conditions including wind speed and current temperature.

This is a national race, and there are other charities and organisations taking part. This means that your balloon is competing individually. The national race are offering 2 prizes:

1.£100 cash
2. Amazon Alexa / Echo Dot 4th Generation!

We will also be offering prizes for the 1st to 3rd place and the best decorated balloon will win a mystery prize – so it’s all to play for! If we sell more than 1000 balloons, we will receive a further donation of £100.

You will need to create an account when buying a balloon, as this allows you to track it’s progress all week via the dashboard. It also ensures eco racing can contact you if your balloon wins the national race. You can buy as many balloons as you would like (£3 per balloon) which increases your chance of winning. Once the race has started you will be unable to buy more balloons or make any changes to it. Every balloon bought will help towards our goal.

Please share to all your friends, family, colleagues and anyone you know! Thank you for your support, and good luck!

Win 2x Tickets to HOYS


Enter now for your chance to win 2x Sunday Evening Performance Tickets to Horse of the Year Show worth over £100!

To enter the draw, donate just £5 to our work with vulnerable, retired racehorses. To find out what’s on at HOYs please visit: Horse of the Year Show (hoys.co.uk).  Thank you to Horse of the Year Show for kindly donating the tickets to assist with fundraising for BTRC.

T&C:
The draw will be made week commencing 18th September
Winner will be contacted by telephone and/or email
If not claimed within 48hrs it will be drawn again
To enter you must be over 16 years old
Winner to receive tickets only, any travel and accommodation required is not the responsibility of BTRC or HOYS
If you are a UK tax payer, please select gift aid when purchasing – this allows us to claim 25% on top of your donation at no cost to you.

DRAW NOW CLOSED: WINNER IS SUSAN LANCASTER

ENTER HERE

Fun for All at the BTRC Open Day

Saturday 5th August saw many people turn out for the Family Fun Open Day at BTRC. With the wettest July on record, the field was out of bounds for parking and with Storm Antoni heading our way it was due to be a wet day but with all activities and demonstrations being inside we went ahead in true British spirit and what a great day we all had! With all monies donated and received on the day, BTRC were incredibly grateful to have raised over £4,500!

Continue reading “Fun for All at the BTRC Open Day”

4Racing Owners Club Donate £1,000

We must say a huge ‘Thank You’ to the shareholders of 4Racing Owners Club for their very generous donation of £1,000. Members, David Moore, Tony Smith and Sue Young joined us at the Open Day to present their cheque.
David said “The visit was a real eye opener to how BTRC retrain and rehome vulnerable thoroughbreds when they are no longer suitable for racing. I have pledged future support to Lauren, Gillian and the rest of the wonderful staff at the BTRC.”
Donations like these are what keep BTRC going and the support of racing owners is incredibly important as it demonstrates their passion and care for racehorses not only when on track but also when their racing days are over, so thank you!
Tony, David and Sue are pictured with (L-R) BTRC Abs ridden by Hannah, Rehab Supervisor Charlotte, BTRC Ambassador Charlie Lawson, Mayor of Lancaster Roger Dennison, Yard Manager Toni, CEO Gillian and BTRC Theo ridden by Molly.

BTRC are Charity of the Year for Lune Valley Pods

Sam Westworth (LVP Managing Director), Gillian Carlisle (BTRC CEO), Carly Callon (LVP HR & Office Manager) and Lauren Vickerson (BTRC Communications & Engagement Manager)

BTRC are thrilled to announce local company, Lune Valley Pods Ltd have pledged their support to former racehorses by selecting BTRC as one of their chosen charities to receive donations from the sales of their luxury, glamping pods.

Lune Valley Pods, established in 2003 evolved from a timber building manufacturer, based just around the corner from BTRC, to the premier camping pod producer in the UK, who today employ over 30 people at their base in Heysham.

This exciting partnership came about when BTRC began Whinney Hill Farm C.I.C (WHF) as part of their diversification strategy in early 2023. As a new member of the Greener Camping Club, WHF needed sustainable, eco-friendly toilets and showers for their new camp site but at a competitive price.
Gillian and Lauren visited the local company to discuss requirements and from the first visit to delivery of the new facilities; Sam, Carly and the whole team at LVP have been supportive of BTRC’s new venture and provided professional advice and friendly support along the way.

Continue reading “BTRC are Charity of the Year for Lune Valley Pods”

BTRC Support Dalkeith Show with Retrained Racehorse Classes

We were thrilled to be a part of the Dalkeith Show on Saturday 8th July in what was a ‘first ever’ for BTRC. Lisa, a generous supporter, kindly sponsored BTRC to hold our first ever ‘Retrained Racehorse’ classes at the show.

The sun was shining as Gillian, Lauren and Molly made their way up North to the beautiful Dalkeith Country Park for the In Hand Retrained Racehorse Class and the Ridden Retrained Racehorse Class, followed by the Retrained Racehorse Championship.

These classes were open to all registered Thoroughbreds that have a Weatherbys passport and that had been in training for minimum of 6 months. ‘Blemishes’ were ignored as BTRC believes a retrained racehorse should not be marked down for these, it’s all about the retrained horse and many Thoroughbreds are able and proud to continue their new careers with blemishes from racing. Barefoot horses were also welcome along with those only shod up front and those wearing properly fitted hoof boots.

Judging was based not only on the horse but also the partnership between horse and handler/rider and BTRC encouraged grass roots entrants to these classes.

The sun was shining and it was around 25 degrees, with a brief thunderstorm at the beginning of the in-hand class, starting just as quickly as it ended! The sun returned for a wonderful class full of variety and great partnerships. The class had 9 entrants, including 1 BTRC horse, Malingering. The results were as follows:

1st : Laura Mcleod – Uncovered

2nd : Jenna Mays – Motamarred

3rd : Susan Laidlaw – Get Help

4th : Caroline Pennycook – Maureen’s Lass

The ridden class had 9 entries and again was full of great partnerships, some of whom it was their first ever show! Following an individual show and stripping, BTRC CEO Gillian concluded the class with the following results:

1st : Karen White – Sudski Star

2nd : Fiona Perry – Try It You

3rd : Jeremy Smith – Oski

4th : Lorna Mcelhaney – Carrickcross Boye

One of the competitors said “I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Judges at Dalkieth Show. It was my first show in 30 odd years and the judge was so kind and nice to us, I felt more at ease despite being so nervous.”

This was a fantastic day out for BTRC and a great opportunity to spread the word about our work and support those with retrained racehorses who put their time and effort into caring for thoroughbreds following their racing careers.

If you would be interested in having BTRC classes at your event/show please get in touch with Lauren on lauren@thetrc.co.uk

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Join the BTRC Volunteer Register

Can you help us by joining the BTRC Volunteer Register?
We are looking to establish a pool of volunteers who we can call upon for different events throughout the year, at various locations around the UK, to help us with fundraising and support at events.
📩Once you have signed up to the register details of events will be emailed out and if you are available to help you can let us know – there is no obligation to volunteer just because you are part of the register. 🫶

CLA Host First Ever Event at BTRC

The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) invites members and their guests to a talk and tour at the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre at Whinney Hill (LA2 6PQ) on 13 June from 10.30am to 2pm. The event will conclude with lunch at the Longlands Hotel (12.30pm).

The event is hosted by the CLA’s Women’s Network which recognises and celebrates the work and leadership of women in the countryside. The visit is open to men too, and anyone interested in the welfare of horses, their retraining after retiring from the racecourse, re-homing and alternative careers as companion or equine horses.

On the day, members and guests will be welcomed to the Centre on the outskirts of Lancaster. The day will include a talk by the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer Gillian Carlisle and her team, followed by a tour of the facility and stables. The event will conclude with a lunch at the Longlands Hotel.

CLA Director North, Lucinda Douglas, said: “This event represents a unique opportunity to see the sterling work undertaken by the UK’s first charity committed to the welfare of retired racehorses. We welcome women and men to this event which showcases the leading role women play in the rural sector.”

Register to attend this ticketed (£29 incl. VAT) event via www.bit.ly/3NLWJDU. Those wanting to attend requiring assistance with their booking can contact Rachael Clayton by emailing rachael.clayton@cla.org.uk or telephoning 01748 907070. Early registration is encouraged as places are limited.

Passionate Racehorse Owners Raise Funds for BTRC

On Saturday 22nd April we had the pleasure of welcoming members from the Facebook group ‘Owners Group Horses and Community’ who are all part of different racehorse syndicates. These responsible owners raise money through their group and donate the proceeds to Charity, this time choosing BTRC to receive a whopping £1,000!!!!
Organising member Sue said “What a fabulous and precious facility, an informative, honest and transparent tour by Lauren. We were so taken with Lauren’s commentary I think all in attendance were all so interested in what she had to say, we didn’t take the amount of photos we usually might have done!! THE most fabulous horses in their care, rehoming procedures are extensive and huge amounts of work go into finding the right loaner for the horse, not necessarily the right horse for the loaner… huge difference!”
BTRC Communications Manager Lauren said “It is always great to engage with responsible owners who not only love the sport but truly care about their horses. Sue is admin for an online community of syndicate members and their choice to donate the monies raised to BTRC shows their support for aftercare organisations. It was wonderful to spend the morning with like minded individuals who are just as passionate about the horses as we are here at BTRC. Thank you to all who helped make this happen.”
Thank you to all in the group from everyone at BTRC for your support and donations, they will really help towards our work with vulnerable thoroughbreds.