Jockey Club donates 10,000 Grand National tickets to NHS

The Jockey Club, the governing body of horse racing in the UK, has announced it will donate 10,000 tickets to the National Health Service (NHS) and social care sector for the first day of the 2021 Grand National Festival.

Tickets will be made available to workers in the Merseyside area, with the Grand National traditionally taking place at local venue Aintree Racecourse.

The free tickets will be valid for the opening day of the Festival on 8 April 2021, which will also be re-named Liverpool’s NHS Day in honour of the work done by local staff and volunteers during the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

This year’s edition of the UK’s horseracing showpiece event was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but a virtual version of the race will take place on 4 April, with punters able to bet on and watch the event on television. Operators will also donate all profits from bets on the race to NHS charities.

“We understand just how hard the NHS and professional carers are working right now and this is our way of showing our gratitude,” Jockey Club Racecourses North West regional director, Dickon White, said.

“The ticket process and distribution will begin at the start of next year and we’ll be working with the relevant organisations to ensure those who should benefit from the initiative are included.”

Jan Ledward, chief officer at NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation that plans NHS care for the city, added: “Across local health and care, staff are working tirelessly to keep services running and give people the care they need, often in the face of significant challenges. We’re delighted to see this enormous effort recognised.”

Meanwhile, Spanish gambling operator R. Franco Group has made an initial donation of 13,000 reusable masks across the country as part of the nation’s ongoing fight against coronavirus.

Donations are planned across the temporary hospital opened at Madrid’s IFEMA, as well as to the Military Emergencies Unit, is a branch of the Spanish army, and also several units of the police and residences for elderly people.

R. Franco Group president Jesus Franco said: “As the pandemic continues to hit companies, families and communities across Spain, the R. Franco Group is here to do all we can to contribute and show our solidarity across all sectors.

“With more donations set to follow, we offer our support with the confidence that we will all come out of this together stronger than before.”