Carlisle Racecourse has named the Army Benevolent fund as its official charity partner for 2026.
The link-up will see the track support the fund in a range of ways over the next 10 months or so, including providing collection opportunities at all 23 of their fixtures this year, while there will also be a dedicated raceday later this year on Sunday 29th November.
The announcement builds on Carlisle’s extensive work in the community, having teamed up with several local charities over the last few years, alongside hosting an annual “Great Community Raceday” to support six local causes.
And it is hoped that the latest agreement will help raise both money and awareness for the Army Benevolent Fund, which supports soldiers, veterans and their families across the country.
The North West is something of a hotspot for veterans, particularly in Carlisle, with the 2021 Census finding that 5.4 per cent of the area’s population had served in the armed forces - either full-time or as a reserve.
Steph Johnson, the North West Regional Director of the Fund, commented: “We are delighted to be named as Carlisle Racecourse Charity Partner for 2026. Horses and Horse Racing have always had close links with the Army, so this feels like a really fitting link-up.
“This partnership will play an important role in helping us provide a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families, whenever they need it most.
“From the moment that someone has completed one day of service with the Army, both them and their families are supported by us for the rest of their lives.
“We do find that a lot of service people from the North West move back to the region when they retire or end their service, and we’re really keen to engage with the local community and raise awareness about our work and how we support servicemen and women.
“We are incredibly grateful to Carlisle Racecourse for their commitment to supporting the Army family and we look forward to working together to make a lasting and meaningful difference.”
Helen Willis, General Manager of Carlisle Racecourse, added: “I’m delighted to welcome the Army Benevolent Fund as our official charity partner for the year ahead.
“Supporting our local community is incredibly important to us, and I’m very proud of the positive impact we’ve made in recent years.
“This area has a long and proud association with the armed forces, from Carlisle Castle, built in 1092, to our own racecourse grounds, which served as a training base for the 11th (Service) Battalion of the Border Regiment, the Lonsdale Battalion, in the early months of the First World War.
“That heritage is something we hold in great regard, so we’re honoured to show our support for such an important community. We’ve got plenty planned over the next 10 months, so watch this space.”
The next opportunity to support The Army Benevolent Fund at Carlisle Racecourse will be at their bucket collection on Sunday 8th March.
For more details on future racedays at Carlisle, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/carlisle
