Roger Fell is one of 12 trainers set to welcome racing fans and the general public on Sunday 12th September for the ever-popular ARC Malton Open Day, raising vital funds for Racing Welfare.
Roger has sent out over 400 winners from his yard in recent years, and visitors will have the chance to see behind-the-scenes of his Arthington Barn Stables, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities for the 40+ horses in his care, including its own private gallops.
He said of his involvement in the ARC Malton Open Day, which ties in with the first ever National Racehorse Week: “The general public need to know what goes on in racing yards; it’s an opportunity for them to see how it all works, and see how happy our staff and horses are. It’s a real team effort -it’s all about them and the horses.”
Among Roger’s stable stars on show are Eldrickjones, who put up an impressive performance to be beaten a nose by the smart Berkshire Shadow in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Roger also had success at York’s Ebor Festival, with The Flying Ginger landing the EBF Fillies’ Handicap, while the ultra consistent Cockalorum is yet to finish out of the first three on his six starts this season.
As well as providing a brilliant family day out, the ARC Malton Open Day, seeks to raise money for organising charity Racing Welfare, who provide vital practical support and advice for anyone working in or retired from the racing industry. Roger describes the charity as ‘being there for whatever the staff need’ – and one such person is rider and groom Debra Hutchinson, who was worked for Roger for nearly five years.
She turned to Racing Welfare’s Malton team after dislocating a shoulder while leading up a horse at Newmarket. Unable to work or drive and with her arm in a sling, Debra contacted Harriet, her local Welfare Officer, and following assessment with an occupational health nurse was referred for physio. She says: “I was following hospital instructions to keep it in a sling and rest it, but it needed physio because it it was almost a frozen shoulder. Racing Welfare provided funding so that I could have physio at Jack Berry House a couple of times a week and that was absolutely fantastic.
“They always kept in touch, and provided funding for the gym at Jack Berry because my shoulder needed strengthening after physio. You just pick up the phone and there’s somebody there to help you. People might feel nervous about asking for help – but there’s always a positive response, and any problem they’ll help you sort it. I was keen to get back to work – there’s that mentality within racing, you do it because you love it and they wanted to help get me back.”
Debra is looking forward to seeing to welcoming people onto the yard. She said: “The Open Day is a really good opportunity for the public to see what’s going on, understand more about racing. It’s nice from my point of view that you have the time to chat to the public, you can’t do that at the races.”
Elsewhere, at Tim Easterby’s yard, visitors will be able to see Winter Power, who won the Gr1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe stakes last Friday. He also had 2 other winners over the Ebor meeting with Copper Knight and Cruyff Turn.
Richard Fahey trained Perfect Power scored the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot this year, before going on to win the Gr1 Prix Morny on Sunday, and will be on show at Musley Bank stables.
Advanced tickets for the ARC Malton open day are on sale now at www.maltonopenday.co.uk for a reduced advanced rate of £12.50, or £8.50 for over 65s, while under 16s go free.
