Motivation and Method: a standout year for racecourse community engagement

The expert panel discussed the innovative approach of racecourses nationwide to create positive impact in their communities. The panel is hosted by the Racecourse Association’s Matthew Jones with racecourse representatives contributing to the discussion.

Panellists formed part of the recent Racecourse Association Showcase & Awards judging process competing in the sought-after Community Award category, won by Go Racing in Yorkshire. Join us at Racing Together Industry Day to hear from General Manager Charlotte Russell to hear more about their Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

This episode discussed the motivation behind these initiatives, why they were created and how they came to life in partnership with charities and the local community.

Meet the Panel

Lewis Donnovan

Lewis is the Marketing Campaign Manager for Sandown Park and Kempton Park. Lewis has worked in the racing industry for eight years and has worked for some of the industry’s biggest brands. Starting his career at Goodwood Racecourse, before moving to British Champions Series and now The Jockey Club, Lewis has been involved in shaping the customer journey and experience at fixtures such as Glorious Goodwood, Champions Day and the Derby. Lewis also works on community initiatives too. Lewis is a Jump racing fan at heart, and the Tingle Creek Festival is his favourite fixture of the year. 

Jonathan Garratt

Jonathan is the Managing Director at Kelso Racecourse. His extensive racecourse management experience encompasses work at Kelso, Cartmel, Worcester and Fontwell Park Racecourses plus central administration with Scottish Racing. During his time at Kelso, Jonathan has led the team to success in the RCA Showcase Awards, most recently winning the public-voted Racing Post Readers’ Award in 2024. Beyond Kelso, Jonathan represents all Small Independent Racecourses as a Director on the RCA Board.

Blaithin Murphy

Blaithin is General Manager of Wincanton Racecourse, starting as a Customer Relationship Management Executive in 2022 before accepting a place on The Jockey Club’s Trainee General Manager programme. Blaithin held hands-on roles in thoroughbred studs and training yards whilst completing her degree in Equine Science and a Masters in Business Management. She has been involved in equine sports all her life, but horse racing has always been at the forefront and she is passionate about making racing more accessible and reaching new audiences. Blaithin is also a former Women in Racing committee member.

Vhari Russell

Vhari Russell is an entrepreneur who runs The Food Marketing Experts a full-service PR, Marketing and social media agency working in the food and drink industry. Vhari has also created Creating Nature Corridors, which is on a mission to help plant 10,000 trees and hedging plants in the UK and Ireland every year. The charity was started after she lost her brother aged 37 to sudden adult death syndrome. The charity was created to create a legacy that Rory was not able to. The charity has been working for three years and in that time has planted over 32,000 trees and hedging plants in 44 sites. Vhari worked with the team at Huntingdon Racecourse on their recent biodiversity and flood defence improvement project.
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