The popular charity race day returns with a full day of family-friendly fun and an exclusive dining experience in support of Devon Air Ambulance.

The Jockey Club at Exeter Racecourse is once more supporting the local charity with a Devon Air Ambulance Race Day on Sunday 24 November, 2019.

This year’s event will feature a dedicated race of the county’s famous and much-loved Dartmoor ponies, who are typically more familiar with the challenging terrain of the moors than on the even, maintained grass of the racecourse.

Horse enthusiasts are in for a treat as not only will they enjoy the Dartmoor Hill Pony charity race, but they will also have the chance to watch the spectacle of 7 other more conventional races.

For £75 per person, the charity hospitality package includes the charity race followed by the 7 conventional races, the advice of a professional Race Day presenter and tipster, and a delicious menu comprised of locally-sourced ingredients created by Head Chef, Ian Brimacombe.

Jack Parkinson, Exeter Racecourse General Manager, said:

‘We are delighted to welcome back the Devon Air Ambulance Trust to Exeter for its Charity Race Day.

‘It's an outstanding organisation that serves the people of Devon every day by delivering critical care in time-critical situations. The Air Ambulance has attended Exeter races on several occasions over the years and we are indebted to them. We hope that families will come and enjoy a day at the races, and our charity race too, when a team of Dartmoor Hill Ponies will be dashing to the line for glory.’

Devon Air Ambulance crew and volunteers will have a presence at the Race Day, collecting donations, selling raffle tickets and chatting about the charity - there may even be an appearance from charity mascot, Ambrose Bear.

Devon Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, Tracy Owen, said:

‘We’re looking forward to returning to Exeter Racecourse for this enjoyable fundraising event. Last year it cost £7.5 million to keep Devon’s two emergency air ambulances flying and because we are independent of Government and National Lottery funding it is entirely thanks to our supporters that we raised this sum. We’re very grateful to the Jockey Club at Exeter Racecourse for their continued support of the charity.’

Businesses looking to take staff out for a social, or savvy shoppers looking for an unusual early Christmas gift, might want to secure their place in what will be either the Travado or Golden Jubilee Suite - both of which are private boxes with fantastic views over the course - for the Devon Air Ambulance Race Day. 

Tickets can be purchased by phoning 01392 466666 and speaking to the fundraising team, or by visiting the Devon Air Ambulance website: bit.ly/DAARaceDay2019 

Devon Air Ambulance

●      Our Mission: Relief of sickness and injury in the county of Devon and surrounding areas

●      Our Vision: An outstanding Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, available to all, 24 hours a day

●      Our Values: Our values are important to us because they inform our actions and our behaviour

Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the Charity which raises the funds to keep Devon’s two Air Ambulances flying. The service is 27 years old and is funded by the generosity of the community, businesses and friends of Devon. Last year it cost £7.5 million to keep the service flying, helping 1109 patients, of which 11% were children.

The Exeter based aircraft operates until 2am every day and since it started flying into the hours of darkness over 118 patients have been helped at night time, using our growing network of Community Landing Sites. You can read more about our community landing sites here. Devon Air Ambulance also runs a weekly lottery, which in 2018 raised over £2 million for the service

Contact details & further information

Sarah Burden

PR & Marketing Manager

s.burden@daat.org

Devon Air Ambulance

5 Sandpiper Court

Harrington Lane

Exeter

EX4 8NS

Photographs

Please use the photographs attached, or email s.burden@daat.org with particular image requests.

Image description:

1)     Dartmoor ponies at play

2)     A delicious meal of sausage and mash served as part of the hospitality package

3)     Devon Air Ambulance alights on the moors