The Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust to sponsor RoR parades

The Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust to sponsor RoR parades

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is delighted to announce that the Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust is to be the official sponsor of RoR parades in 2017.

RoR is British horseracing’s official charity for horses that have retired from racing and since 2008 it has staged raceday parades as a way of demonstrating to the public the versatility and adaptability of racehorses.

RoR’s parades are now an established part of the major Jump racing festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree, with the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr also part of the roster. In 2017, in addition to the spring jumping festivals, RoR parades are due to be held at Newbury on Lockinge Day, at Ascot on King George Day and at Newmarket at Future Champions Weekend.

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of RoR, said: “It’s a wonderful gesture by Sir Peter’s trustees and we are very grateful. I am sure that Peter would have enjoyed seeing how popular the parades have become, especially at the likes of Cheltenham and Aintree, where crowds gather to see former stars of the track looking fantastic and clearly enjoying their second career.

“The parades perform a valuable role for RoR in promoting awareness among racegoers of the range of activities open to former racehorses. Without the parades the racing public would be unlikely to see these horses in their new career, whether they be doing dressage, showing or any of the dozen disciplines RoR stages classes in.”

The scope of the sponsorship agreement extends to support for the RoR Musical Ride. Based in Yorkshire and comprised completely of former racehorses, the RoR Musical Ride have performed at a number of public events, including in 2016 at the RoR racenight at Sandown Park and at Gatcombe Horse Trials.

On behalf of the trustees of the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, Nigel Payne said: “The trustees consider the RoR parades to be an excellent initiative and a worthy cause. We have no doubt that Peter would have enjoyed seeing his charitable trust associated with them as they not only highlight the excellent work done by RoR in promoting a new life for horses after racing, but they also bring a lot of pleasure to racegoers.”

As part of the sponsorship agreement, the horses in the RoR parades will carry branded number cloths and the trust will be acknowledged in the promotion of the parades as well as on the day itself. In 2016 the RoR parades were supported by the Racing Post who donated the proceeds from the sale of their ‘Christmas Jumpers’ to the charity.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.