WHOOPS A DAISY WIN GETS RACING TO SCHOOL PUPILS WHOOPING!

24th November, 2011

Children from the Matthew Arnold School in Surrey were thrilled to watch Barry Geraghty ride Whoops A Daisy to victory wearing the same colours they had donned for their Racing to School day after the Let’s Live Racing syndicate donated a set of silks to the education programme.  

The children, who were participating in a range of numeracy challenges behind the scenes at Kempton Park Racecourse on Monday had their photograph taken with Geraghty prior to the race and were later celebrating as they saw him win with the five year old mare by two lengths.  Whoops A Daisy was one of seven winners saddled by Nicky Henderson after an historic day for the trainer on Monday.  

The Year 8 pupils were visiting the racecourse for the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust’s Racing to School programme, which uses the context of horseracing to enrich learning of National Curriculum subjects.  Earlier in the day BHEST’s Lead Education Officer and ex-jockey Ollie McPhail had taken the children into the Parade Ring where they used mathematical calculations and averages to work out how many horses could safely parade at any one time.  By the afternoon the children were back in the Parade Ring to celebrate the victory with Let’s Live Racing’s Mark Ball and a number of owners. 

Judith Allen, BHEST’s Executive Director said, “Children attending the Racing to School education programme are always given a set of silks to wear for the day.  This fires their imagination allowing them to put themselves in the shoes of a famous jockey, and helps them to learn by making Racing to School an even more fun and engaging experience.

“BHEST relies on owners donating their silks so that children can wear them during their Racing to School day.   Unfortunately some of our silks are now looking very worn so we were really grateful to Mark and Let’s Live Racing for donating some of their colours.   If any other owners or racing clubs would be willing to donate a set of silks to the programme we would be really grateful if they could get in contact with us.”

Amy, aged 13, who had her photograph taken with Geraghty and the owners, said that her favourite activity was going into the Weighing Room and sauna and commented, “I enjoyed having a wide range of things to do”.  Rachel, aged 12 added, “Trying on the outfits was cool and watching the races was awesome.”

Amy from Matthew Arnold School with Barry Geraghty, Mark Ball and Let's Live Racing owners.