There’s extra incentive for staff in Britain’s National Hunt yards to have their runners even smarter than ever with news that Racing Welfare has organised a Best Turned Out (BTO) series which is sponsored by EPDS Racing and has a prize fund of £1,600.
Each month, a different racecourse will carry an “EPDS-Racing Welfare BTO series” qualifying race. The groom who leads up the best turned-out horse in that race will receive £50 in cash plus a branded gilet. Their yard then goes onto a league table with the final being held at the Racing Welfare Charity race day at Wincanton on December 6. The yard with the largest number of BTO series points will receive a perpetual trophy and £1,000 cash prize to be shared between the staff.
Richard Negus, Fundraising and Communications Executive for Racing Welfare, said: “Winning a ‘Best Turned Out’ is always popular with trainers, staff and owners alike. With prizes of £1,000 for the winning yard and £600 for individual grooms up for grabs thanks to EPDS Racing there is fair incentive to make sure those plaits are straight!
“We believe that this is the first time that such a series has taken place and we are indebted to EPDS and the 12 racecourses who are helping us highlight the hard work undertaken by all racing staff in getting a racehorse to look a million dollars at the races”
As well as backing the series, the sponsors EPDS Racing are keen to encourage the next generation of racehorse owners and offer a discounted membership to their racing club for everyone under the age of 25. They also support the work of Racing Welfare in improving the lives of stable staff past and present via direct donations from each club membership fee.
The 12 qualifying races for the series are held at the following meetings:
Huntingdon, January 27
Warwick, February 11
Carlisle, March 18
Ludlow, April 5
Fakenham, May 27
Stratford, June
Worcester, July 31
Bangor-on-Dee, August 31
Market Rasen, September 29
Fontwell, October 6
Wetherby, November 17
Wincanton, December 6.