Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is delighted to confirm the return in 2021 of the largest annual event exclusively for former racehorses in the UK, together with news of a new title sponsor in The Jockey Club.
The Jockey Club RoR National Championships 2021 will be held at Aintree Equestrian Centre on 26th- 29th August, featuring classes for showing, dressage and jumping, culminating with the crowning of The Jockey Club Supreme Champion on Saturday’s evening performance.
Entries for The Jockey Club RoR National Championships open today at noon, Tuesday 8th June, and will remain open until Saturday 1st August for the 77 classes held across four days. The last staging of the event in 2019 drew a total of 940 entries from over 326 individual retrained racehorses.
Di Arbuthnot, RoR Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that RoR’s relationship with The Jockey Club will enter a new phase in 2021 with a new three-year deal in support of our national championships. After the cancellation of last year’s event due to the pandemic it will be wonderful to be back at Aintree in August.
“Furthermore, in the aftermath of The Jockey Club staging The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs, the country’s most prestigious Flat race that identifies the cream of the crop from each generation of thoroughbreds, it is apt to be announcing The Jockey Club’s three-year sponsorship of an event that celebrates the alternative career paths taken by horses not of the calibre of Derby or Oaks winners.”
Sulekha Varma, North West Head of Racing for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “The RoR National Championships are always a fantastic event, and we are delighted to be welcoming them back to Aintree Racecourse Equestrian Centre this year, particularly as the new event partner.
“Everyone at The Jockey Club is proud to stage The Jockey Club RoR National Championships and the event is evidence of the course’s year round commitment to promoting horse welfare. We are really looking forward four days in August, and hopefully we will see a few familiar equine stars in attendance!”
The Jockey Club RoR National Championships play an important role in promoting the versatility of retired racehorses. In 2019 the seven-year-old gelding, Mumford, was crowned Supreme Champion just thirteen months after leaving training. The remarkable transformation was made possible due to retraining from rider Collette McGoldrick and Mumford’s own adaptability. In winning the title, Mumford followed the footsteps of previous Supreme Champions Jack The Giant, Beware Chalk Pit, Wild West and What of It.
For more information on the entries and the event’s schedule, please go to https://www.ror.org.uk/series/1180
