One of the highlights of the Hambleton social calendar is our complimentary owners’ race day, held for our owners at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting within the excellent main stand.
After an absence of two years, the ever-popular occasion returned bigger and better than ever on Sunday and once again proved a big success with a significant sum raised for charity as Hambleton’s owners enjoyed a great day from some of the best seats in the house at Doncaster.
The day, complimentary for all guests, began and ended with the racecourse bathed in bright sunshine as owners arrived to be greeted by the Hambleton team. In a matter of minutes there was a great atmosphere in the box as guests found their tables and began to look forward to the day ahead.
As Caroline took to the microphone to offer owners a warm welcome to the box guests couldn’t fail to notice the impressive display in the box, featuring champagne, handmade chocolates and beautifully presented gifts, arranged by Lizzy, Hambleton’s very own queen of the gifts.
Our Director Of Racing, Simon Turner, then took to the stage to talk to owners ahead of being joined by firm Hambleton friend and northern racing legend Bill Warby to go through the card.
The pair passed on plenty of information and news through the card, including a word for the first winner of the day, who scored at 9-1 after opening at 22-1.
Traditionally, our Doncaster event sees us raise a tidy sum for a charity and this year was no different, as we collected funds for Hambleton’s charity partner, Racing Welfare.
Our owners have proved hugely generous over the years with tens of thousands raised for charity in the last 17 years and once again gave generously with £3,520 raised – a new record for us on this day.
The quality of the complimentary catering was excellent and very well received as owners relaxed and looked forward to what promises to be a very exciting season ahead.
Throughout the afternoon a great atmosphere developed as new and old owners got acquainted in an informal and fun environment in which new friendships were formed and established friendships flourished.
It was great to see so many new faces getting to know some of our old friends as some owners got their first taste of what owning a racehorse means with Hambleton.
On behalf of Hambleton we’d like to say a big thank you to all owners, not only for all the kind words about the day but also for helping make the day the success it was.
We’ve been inundated with kind messages since Sunday from our owners. It’s great to hear that so many of our guests had a wonderful time and humbling to receive so much genuine gratitude for organising one of our favourite days of the year.
As ever, the challenge is now on to make next year’s event even better!
