Charity Riders’ Race in Aid of HEROS Charity announced to take place at Newbury Racecourse on Thursday 24th July 2025

HEROS Charity along with Newbury Racecourse and the Amateur Jockey’s Association (AJA) are delighted to present the HEROS Charity Amateur Riders’ Sweepstake, taking place at the Berkshire racecourse on the evening of Thursday 24th July.

The race provides an amazing opportunity for anyone who has ever dreamed of riding in a race at one of Britain’s most famous and prestigious racecourses, all whilst supporting a very worthy cause in HEROS Charity.

The race is open to a maximum of 12 riders at level weights of 11 stone 7lbs and will take place over 1m2f, with horses rated 0-75 for flat racing. National Hunt horses can also run subject to individual clearance from HEROS Charity and Newbury Racecourse. All riders are responsible for finding their own horses to ride and are required to raise a minimum of £1,500 for HEROS Charity.

Unlicensed riders without previous recent race riding experience must attend, either at least 3 training sessions for assessment with a licensed Jockey Coach or an assessment day at the British Racing School or Northern Racing College. Exemptions to this can only be provided for experienced riders fulfilling the specific BHA criteria.

HEROS Charity, based on the West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire border, is British Horse Racing’s Aftercare Lead, working in partnership with RoR on aftercare provisions for former racehorses. Since HEROS started in 2006, it has retrained and rehomed 100’s of former racehorses, working hard to find the most suitable new life for each individual thoroughbred that comes through the HEROS retraining programme.

In 2015, HEROS diversified and started HEROS Education and now welcomes up 65 students between 11 and 16 a week with Special Educational Needs (SEN). They also run a post 16 Diploma courses for SEN students with EHCPs, with a view to finding them relevant equine jobs at the end of it. HEROS uses former racehorses as a catalyst to spark inspiration into SEN students. The synergy in educating both horses and students is a unique model, that works brilliantly well for both.

Grace Muir Founder and CEO of HEROS commented ‘We are delighted to be working with Newbury Racecourse and the AJA again on a charity race for HEROS. We have done several in the past and it always a lot of fun and a wonderful opportunity for some riders to realise a dream of riding in a race. We are excited about working with and supporting the riders, who take part and help us by fundraising vital funds to allow us to secure the futures of the many former racehorses and students who come through the various HEROS programmes. Our huge thanks must go to Newbury Racecourse and the AJA for their enthusiasm and invaluable support of our charity riders’ race, and we look forward to a fantastic evening at Newbury on the 24th July’.

To find out more about by riding in the HEROS Charity Race and to apply contact Sarah Oliver from the AJA at or contact Kate Mills from HEROS on

Our valued supporters

We could not continue our valuable work without the support of our many friends and donors, including corporate sponsors. Without their support many HEROS Charity fundraising events would not be possible; we are grateful to our sponsors for the opportunity their support provides in enabling us to take our fundraising activities to a wider audience.