The Macmillan Charity Raceday on the Knavesmire holds great significance in the calendar - William Derby

For me, it is a unique day in a busy racing summer, a time when the Racecourse family and its wider supporters come together to do something special, for a very special cause.I think a number of factors have been at play contributing to the remarkable and successful Macmillan Charity Raceday, which has already raised approaching £10m since 1971.
By William Derby
Published 27th May 2023, 06:00 BST

First, the enduring power and appeal that Macmillan Cancer Support possesses, so many people are touched by cancer and the role that Macmillan plays within that is pivotal. Second, the support and generosity of both the Yorkshire and racing community involved, people who have volunteered on the day and in the build-up, there is a huge list of people connected to raceday who have contributed to its success.

And finally at the heart of the partnership there is an exciting Raceday itself. People are taking part in a marquee sporting event, a celebration of life, an opportunity to get dressed up, enjoy the horses and visit one of the best racecourses in the world.

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All this is done in the knowledge that every ticket purchased for Macmillan Charity Raceday contributes to a donation for Macmillan, in what is essentially a charitable profit share with Macmillan and other charities. In addition, this year we have the Proper Thank You Bank which means for every four tickets we sell for the Macmillan Charity Raceday 2023 we will offer an additional free admission opportunity to Macmillan nurses, carers, volunteers and wider NHS staff.

Macmillan Charity Raceday has already raised approaching £10m since 1971.Macmillan Charity Raceday has already raised approaching £10m since 1971.
Macmillan Charity Raceday has already raised approaching £10m since 1971.

The need for support with this dreadful disease resonates with everyone, we fully appreciate Macmillan’s wide-ranging role and impact in everyone’s lives; cancer touches us all. From people living with cancer, our team members, the volunteers, cancer carers and Macmillan nurses in particular play a pivotal role for us all.

In the time that I’ve been involved, the Raceday has evolved and extended, but it’s far beyond me and my role. It has changed naturally, long before I was here the association was created in the 1970s with well-respected Halifax-based racing publishers Phil Bull and Reg Griffin who hosted a fundraising raceday lunch initially at Doncaster, and then the following year in 1971 at York Racecourse.

An eve of racing Dinner morphed into a charity lunch on actual raceday and now encompasses events and fundraisers not only taking place on the preceding Friday raceday, on the raceday and also throughout the year. A notable example being the 20 plus brave souls undertaking a tandem skydive, the Macmillan Jump Of Their Lives, to swell the coffers. A member of the York Racecourse team, Matthew Ascough, has arranged seven extravaganzas, known as the Macmillan Hopes and Dreams Ball. Matt is a winner of a Macmillan Cancer Douglas Award. Following a cancer diagnosis in his 20s he used his experience to launch this hugely successful event held each year at York Racecourse, his story is an example to us all and is why we are just encouraging as many people as possible to come racing this June. People ask me how we manage to raise around £500,000 every year for Macmillan but the truth is there is no silver bullet.

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We are just so proud of the successes created around our unique and historic charity event. It is humbling to reflect that it is now both the largest charity raceday in the country and also the biggest single fundraising event for Macmillan, bring on June 17.

William Derby is chief executive and clerk of the course on the Knavesmire.

Related topics:York RacecoursePeopleMacmillan Cancer SupportYorkshire