Warwick Racecourse’s traditional curtain raiser to The Cheltenham Festival is to raise funds for the Air Ambulance Service for the second year running.
The Air Ambulance Countryside Day is themed around all things outdoors and takes place on Sunday, March 12 – two days ahead of the nation’s biggest festival of Jump racing.
The Air Ambulance Service is hosting its popular Cheltenham Preview in the Paddock Pavilion, with Randox Health Grand National winning jockey Jason Maguire and Warwick Racecourse ambassador and top trainer Dan Skelton returning as expert panellists.
They will be joined by Tom Earl from 188Bet and broadcasters Lee McKenzie and Paul Jacobs who are hosting the panel.
Along with six races on the programme, the themed day will also include entertainment ranging from pony rides, stilts walkers, falcons, ferret racing, the chance to meet shire horses in the paddock, along with a live acoustic band.
Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: “Warwick’s reputation as a strong proving ground for The Festival is well known across the industry and the Air Ambulance Countryside Day serves as a great warm-up to Cheltenham.
“We’re delighted to be supporting the Air Ambulance Service with this raceday for the second year and the charity has organised a fantastic Cheltenham Preview which is proving to be hugely popular.
“We’ve developed a strong relationship with the charity and Izzy Cowper from our team will be running the London Marathon to raise funds for the organisation in April.
“We hope the raceday on March 12 will serve as another good opportunity to spread awareness of the fantastic work the Air Ambulance Service does and also be a great day’s racing.”
Tracy Grunwell, Fundraising Manager for the Air Ambulance added: “We’re thrilled to be hosting our second Cheltenham Preview with Warwick Racecourse and we’ve already had a fantastic take up for the event.
“Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance have attended more than 500 incidents involving horses over the last four years, so is a hugely important service for the equestrian world.
“We’ve had some very generous donations for an auction we’ll be holding on the day, so it promises to be a great occasion.”
Tickets to the Cheltenham Preview with the expert panel cost £75 per person and includes prime racing viewing from a private marquee, drinks reception, a two course lunch and a tipster session. Tickets are limited and available by emailing tracy.grunwell@theairambulance.org.uk or calling 07825 634103.
Gates open at 12.20pm, with the first race at 2.20pm and last at 5.30pm. General admission is £12.50 if booked by midnight on March 5, and then £15 until March 11, and £20 on the day.
PICTURE –left to right: Critical care paramedic Paul Mullins, Isobel Cowper (Warwick Racecourse), Wilbur of Warwick, doctor Lucy Coulter and critical care paramedic Mark Beasley
