Race horses at Lingfield Park set to "nose" ahead for this year's Red Nose Day (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Race horses at Lingfield Park set to "nose" ahead for this year's Red Nose Day

4:08pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Local News

There will be no “long faces” at Lingfield Park Racecourse this Friday (March 15) as local racehorse owners and trainers take part in the world's first 'Red Noseband Day.'

Course owners Arena Racing Company (ARC) have pledged to donate £250 to Comic Relief for every horse running that wears one of the specially-made nosebands.

Dubbed 'Red Noseband Day,' the charity challenge for Red Nose Day is being promoted by ARC and Lovetheraces.com, and a number of trainers have already pledged their support.

Pupils from nearby Lingfield Notre Dame Junior School will be joining in the fun too by staging a ‘comic jockey hobby-horse race’ on the track before racing. The pupils from Years 1 to 6 at the co-educational day school, will staging their own ‘horse race’ following Comic Relief’s ‘Do something Funny for Money’ suggestion, and will be collecting for the charity at the racecourse on the day.

The red noseband idea came about because some horses wear sheepskin nosebands to help them concentrate and to encourage them to look forward. The nosebands are normally white and Lovetheraces and ARC have spoken with the racing authorities to get special dispensation for the unique red nosebands.

Both Lingfield Park and its sister track, Wolverhampton, are encouraging their owners and trainers to take part in the challenge on the all-weather tracks, with Lingfield Park’s first race on Friday at 1.45pm.

Kate Hills, ARC public relations and communications director, said: “We all know what fantastic work Comic Relief does and we are really excited to bring Red Nose Day to racing.”

She said: “It will add some real colour to the day’s action and we are sure plenty of people will get behind it. “Wouldn’t it be great if a horse manages to win by a Red Nose?”

Nick Attenborough, spokesperson for Lovetheraces, added: “This is a really fun way for the sport to join in on Red Nose Day and we would like to thank all the owners and trainers who are supporting this initiative.

“We’ve enjoyed doing our bit to help out charities in the past and we are thrilled the world’s first Red Noseband Day will support the great work of Comic Relief.”

Anyone wanting to make a donation to Red Noseband Day can do so online at: www.justgiving.com/RedNosebandDay ARC is the largest racecourse operator in the UK, owning and currently operating 15 racecourses.