An amateur rider is living his dream of becoming a racehorse jockey after being selected to take part in a prestigious charity horse race at York Racecourse.
George Atkinson, 19, from Northallerton, who is deemed too tall for professional horse racing at 6ft 2in, will join 11 other amateur jockeys chosen to take part in the Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of their Lives charity race.
The race, which began in 2012, is viewed as one of the most successful charity horse races in the UK.
George, who is a young farmer and student at Askham Bryan Agricultural College, said: “I’m delighted to have be selected to take part in the race, I’ve always dreamt of being a jockey but as I continued to grow taller it was clear that professional horse racing was out of the question.
“I’ve always been around horses, my uncle trains racehorses, my aunty is an eventer and I spent my childhood travelling all over the country show jumping – it’s my absolute passion.
“To ride at York Racecourse is a dream come true.”
The renowned charity race will see members of the public completing six months of intense jockey training and fundraising before racing thoroughbred horses on York’s iconic course.
Now in its tenth year, each jockey is committed to raising at least£4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, since the first race in 2012 past riders have raised over £1.2 million for people living with cancer, George continues:
“I’m motivated to raise as much as I can for Macmillan, like most people my family has experience of cancer, I’m happy to play my role in providing the vital support that Macmillan give people living with cancer.”
The 12 amateur riders selected to take part can expect to race in front of around 25,000 people in June, George is joined by five other riders from Yorkshire including Issy Saxby from Ripon, Carolyn Woods from Bedale, Bella Brown from York, Sam Brown from Malton and Jane Horner from Easingwold.
William Derby, chief executive at York Racecourse, said: “Congratulations to the twelve intrepid riders selected to take part this year, we wish them the best of luck and hope they’ll enjoy every minute of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
“York Racecourse are incredibly proud of our long running partnership with Macmillan.
“Through tremendous support from individuals and organisations we raised a remarkable £300,000 in 2021 which included half this sum being raised by the charity race.
“We are very much looking forward to Macmillan Charity Race day on Saturday 11 June which is the biggest charity race day in British racing and traditionally Macmillan’s biggest single fundraising event.
“Just by attending and supporting these riders and enjoying the wider race day people are helping raise funds for those living with cancer.”
The Macmillan Charity Raceday at York is the oldest running charity race day in the country, 2022 marks over 50 years of this iconic partnership, in which time over £9 million has been raised for people living with cancer.
The Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of Their Lives race will be the first race of the day at Macmillan’s Charity Raceday on Saturday 11 June 2022.
Racing fans can support this fabulous day of fundraising just by attending, for further information and to book tickets visit the York Racecourse website.
You can support the twelve riders by donating to their JustGiving pages here; Macmillan Charity Raceday 2022 – JustGiving
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