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Frankie Dettori and Trawlerman bring home the prize for Sporting Memories!

We were honoured to not only be involved in the SkyBet Ebor Festival Community Sweepstake but delighted to also be the winning charity after being paired with the eventual race winner Trawlerman, ridden by racing legend Frankie Dettori.

We were one of 22 chosen charities that support communities across Yorkshire that were paired with a runner in the Sky Bet Ebor race. Each charity was guaranteed to receive a £1,000 donation after being selected to participate in the Community Sweepstake, with the charities finishing in the top three receiving a further donation.

During the second day of the SkyBet Ebor Festival, our very own Susie Brindley, Partnerships Director (Charities), helped draw out the charities with their chosen runner for the race and Susie teamed us up with Trawlerman.

In a dramatic Ebor race held on Saturday (20 August), jockey Frankie Dettori expertly judged the race with Trawlerman to pip Alfred Boucher, ridden by P.J McDonald, by the merest of margins at the line to claim a sensational win which meant we would receive £20,000 to support our clubs across Yorkshire.

This was much to the shock and delight of the whole of Sporting Memories family as Susie represented us to collect the winning prize and a photo with the winning jockey Dettori and trainers of Trawlerman.

Speaking after the race, Susie said: “The Sporting Memories Foundation are absolutely thrilled to be the winning charity in the Sky Bet Ebor Festival Community Sweepstake.

“It was amazing to be shortlisted but to win this amount for our charity in such an exciting finish will not only create many memories for everyone who saw the race, but will also make such a difference to all of those we support who are living with dementia, depression, loneliness and any other life-limiting conditions across Yorkshire and beyond.

“The money will help us to build our resources, train more volunteers and support more people who are passionate about sport through reminiscence and activity.

“We would like to thank York Racecourse, Sky Bet, Frankie Dettori who rode a thrilling and nail-biting race, the trainers John and Thady Gosden and of course Trawlerman who absolutely raced a blinder.

“A huge thank you should also go the 21 wonderful charities in the draw who are doing brilliant work across the county and we look forward to connecting with them as a result of this opportunity.”

James Brennan, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship at York Racecourse, added: “As races go, it couldn’t have been a more exciting end to our Sky Bet Ebor Festival Community Sweepstake, with Trawlerman taking victory by such a narrow margin! It was an honour to host representatives from all 22 charities and can’t wait to see them continue all their incredible work with the donations they receive off the back of the initiative.”

Michael Afflick, Flutter UK&I Creative and SBG Brand & Sponsorship Director, concluded: “A huge congratulations to The Sporting Memories Foundation, Leeds Society for Deaf & Blind People and Keep Your Pet for placing in our community sweepstake. They are all such wonderful causes and the weekend as a whole was a huge success. We know that beyond the money that goes towards their causes, the charities, foundations and community groups have also built a network amongst themselves, allowing them to work together in the future for the good of the region.”