A ROA Family Day with Racing To School

By Roxzan Walmsley, ROA Financial Controller

 

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining Racing To School at Ascot Racecourse with my young family, and what a day it turned out to be.

We were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the racecourse with Robert Bellamy (Racing To School): from the jockeys’ changing rooms to the winners’ podium, the stewards’ room, weighing room, and even the stables, we had the rare chance to see the beating heart of Ascot.

The children loved trying on jockey silks and getting hands-on with interactive activities, exploring fun facts about racing, racehorses, and the life of a jockey. The highlight for them was meeting real jockeys, including Hollie Doyle, Dephine Santiago and Robbie Dolan, along with seeing the horses close up and learning how much care and dedication goes into training both horses and riders.  Furthermore, it wasn’t just about the jockeys, the day opened our eyes to the wide range of careers within the sport, from stable staff to racecourse teams, all working together to make a race day happen.

Our 8-year-olds were especially taken with the speed and beauty of the horses. By the end of the day, they were buzzing with excitement, imagining their futures as jockeys, owners, or working somewhere in the racing world. That evening they even went to bed wearing the jockey goggles gifted to them by jockey Karis Teetan!

To top the day off, we even picked a winner in the second-last race before heading home,  the perfect end to a day that has left us all wanting to return.

Huge thanks to Racing To School for such an inspiring day. If you get the chance to join one of their events with family, I can’t recommend it enough, it’s the perfect way to connect deeper with our fantastic sport, no matter your age.

www.racingtoschool.co.uk