The children and families who use Children’s Hospice South West’s hospices face their own, sometimes very difficult, journeys.  They come to Little Bridge House in North Devon, Charlton Farm in North Somerset and Little Harbour in Cornwall for a range of palliative, emergency, and respite care in a loving, caring environment where they can relax and enjoy spending time together as a family, away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

General manager Alice Everitt said: “The Children’s Hospice South West is such a good cause and we’re delighted to be supporting it. We hope as many people take part as possible and then enjoy a day at the races.”

Anyone wishing to take part must register at www.chsw.org.uk/santas and entrance is just £15 which includes a Santa’s suit and a ticket to come racing for the day.

Devon marathon chase the feature at Exeter on Friday

RACECOURSE AND ARMED FORCED COMBINE TO PUT ON A DAY FOR HEROES AT EXETER

With a life size replica Typhoon, Challenger II tank, rolling rock climbing wall, weapons stand, Tri Service recruiting vehicles, a CVR (T)  and six races at Exeter Racecourse on Sunday (November 20) organizers are hoping British Armed Forces Raceday will be a sell out.

The raceday is being held in aid of Help for Heroes and dozens of companies have supported it by donating a myriad of raffle and silent auction prizes including two free flights from Easyjet, a day at Land Rover headquarters including lunch for four and off road driving and a rocking horse from the Early Learning Centre.

The raceday is free to all pre-booked military service personnel and Royal British Legion members with each free entry entitled to pre-book a guest for half price (more details at www.exeter-racecourse or call 01392 832599). Children aged 17 and under race free. £1 of every ticket sold will be donated to the charity as well as a percentage of food and beverage sales.

Racegoes can enjoy the military assets from 11am and then a brief service and blessing will take place in the paddock at 11.30am by the Archdeacon of Totnes (The Ven John Rawlings) who is a former Royal Naval Chaplain.

Just before noon, mascots, including Tommy Bear, Pilgrim Pete and Burts Chip,  will be paraded in the paddock before they take part in a race down the home straight. Any bets taken will be donated to Help For Heroes.

BFPS will be present so that families can send messages to their loved ones overseas and there’s a free goody bag for the first 300 children through the gate.

Exeter’s general manager Alice Everitt said: “It’s been a huge effort by a lot of people to put on the day, not least Exeter’s Tri Service representatives and Flt Lt Tracey Parrott who has put in an awful lot of ground work.

“We’re hopeful a lot of people will turn up, enjoy the racing plus all the other activities we have as well as support our military service personnel too. The aim of the day is to both show our appreciation of British Armed Forces while raising as much money as we can for Help for Heroes too.”

FIRST ‘FREE’ RACE DAY FOR BRITISH ARMED FORCES IN EXETER – THE BAFFTAS

Exeter Racecourse has dedicated its raceday on Sunday 20 November to the current personnel serving in our British Armed Forces who, along with members of the Royal British Legion, have been invited to enjoy a ‘Free’ day at the Races. The day is named the BAFFTAS – The British Armed Forces Families Thanks & Awareness Sunday; there will be up to 2000 ‘Free’ places available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

The raceday has been organised for our Forces, their Families and as a fundraiser for Help for Heroes. As well as 6 exciting races, off the track, there will be a mascot race, a climbing wall, a Challenger II Tank and Hawk to view and a chance to send messages to loved ones in Afghanistan with the British Forces Broadcasting Services.

Each ‘Free’ entry will be entitled to bring a guest/spouse for just £7.50 (half-price) and children under 17 years will have free entry too; £1 from all full-price admission tickets purchased will be donated to Help for Heroes. There will be a silent auction throughout the day and a chance to purchase raffle tickets for many exciting prizes. Profits from these events and a percentage from food and beverages will also be donated to the charity.

Exeter Racecourse’s General Manager, Alice Everitt, said “With numerous British Army, Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force bases in the West Country within easy reach of our Racecourse, we thought it was a great opportunity to show our support for our troops. It will be a fantastic day out enabling us to show our appreciation for the forces and raise money for Help for Heroes whilst everyone enjoys at the races.”

The BAFFTAS raceday is being supported by Western Morning News and there are also VIP Table packages at Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Standard available in the private boxes and restaurants. Please contact the Racecourse Office for more information.

Squadron Leader Andy Walker, head of RAF Recruiting in the South-West added, “It’s the first BAFFTAS raceday of its kind in the South-West and we are delighted to be involved. We hope we have a full house, encouraging families to enjoy a fun day at the Races, have a little flutter and most importantly raise funds for Help for Heroes”.

To reserve ‘Free’ tickets (subject to availability) or take advantage of pre-booking discounts, book online by clicking here and enter the special promotion code for serving British Military and Royal British Legion members only - EXEH4HNOV20.  Military ID or British Legion Membership will then have to be presented with ticket on arrival to guarantee free entry. For details regarding VIP Hospitality Tables, please contact the Racecourse Office on (01392) 832599.




BURTS CHIPS TEAMS UP WITH LEADING RACECOURSE, INCLUDING EXETER, TO OFFER FREE CRISPS FOR A YEAR

Exeter Racecourse has teamed up with Devon-based artisan crisp brand Burts Chips to offer racegoers to its meeting on Wednesday, November 9  the chance to munch through a year’s free supply of the handmade potato chips.

 Burts recently became a sponsor of Jockey Club Racecourses which has 14 racecourses across the country including Exeter.

  Director Nick Hurst said: “We’re thrilled with our involvement with Jockey Club Racecourses and racing and we hope that racegoers to Exeter will enter the competition.

 “Some of the racecourses we are involved with are a long way from our humble origins on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon but we’re the fastest growing premium chip brand in the UK and this is a great way to increase awareness of our product.”

 A spokesman from Exeter added: “It’s a great initiative and we hope all our racegoers try their chance at winning. Having a box of crisps delivered to your doorstep once a month for a year is fantastic. We just hope whoever wins remembers to share them all with their friends.”

 Burts started life 14 years ago and the team set upon a mission to create the tastiest, crunchiest crisp around. Now it is the fastest growing snack company in Europe.

 Burts prides itself on its Devon heritage, sourcing potatoes from south west farms at every opportunity, and where possible, flavouring its chips with the very best in local produce. For example, its Sweet Chilli crisps are made from fresh chillies grown at the South Devon Chilli Farm, and its Smoky Bacon crisps are given a made with dry cured bacon from Denhays Farm in Dorset.

 Burts is also committed to perfection which has led to impressive food fans including Tom Parker Bowles who declared he had “long believed that Burts Chips are the finest in the country if not the world,” to seven Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse who describes them as “must-stock essentials.”

 Nick Hurst commented: “Like racing the crisp market is fast moving industry and changing quickly. Racing is also about enjoying the great British outdoors with your friends and being sociable and as well as sharing a racecard, why not share a packet of Burts too!”

To find out more about Burts Hand Fried Potato Chips please visit the website at www.burtschips.com.

EXETER LOOKS FORWARD TO ITS BEST EVER CARD TOMORROW

Exeter Racecourse looks set to grab all the headlines tomorrow with the track hosting its best ever card, trainer Paul Nicholls likely to saddle his 2000th winner and racing superstars Kauto Star, Big Bucks and Mon Parrain in action after racing when they will be put through their paces with a racecourse gallop.

General manager Alice Everitt said: “We are so pleased with our entries with some incredibly exciting young novice horses racing today. We hope everyone will stay after the last race and watch Kauto Star, Big Bucks and Mon Parrain being put through their paces too and the icing on the cake would be if Paul Nicholls were to saddle his 2000th winner.”

Topping the card is the Betfred Haldon Gold Cup with Captain Chris making his seasonal debut.  The seven year old won the 2011 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and followed that win with success in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.  Hobbs has reported that the gelding schooled well on grass on Saturday with Richard Johnson on board “Everything has gone really well with the preparation. The ground at Exeter is likely to be perfect  good, good to soft in places. I couldn’t wish for more,” he added.

Paul Nicholls runs his smart prospect Ghizao with Ruby Walsh taking the ride.  The seven-year-old ran some decent races in defeat last season when fifth in the Arkle and second to Finians Rainbow in the Maghull Chase at Aintree

Last season’s Grand Annual winner Oiseau De Nuit and Medermit, a grade 1 winner at Sandown are also among the entries.

An above average national hunt novices’ hurdle kicks of the card with Allthekingshorses and Rocky Creek likely to head the betting. The latter is a full brother to the ill-fatedTell Massini and both horses have won their only point-to-point starts to date.

In the 2m1f novices’ hurdle Emma Lavelle runs Well Regarded, a horse she believes will be a decent Saturday handicapper in time. Nicholls will run Jump City whose sole outing last season resulted in finishing second to Smad Place at Wincanton in February. Big Easy, a three times winner in the flat in France, will represent Hobbs.

Plenty of eyes will be on Menorah as he makes his chasing debut in the beginners’ chase. The 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner was fifth in this year’s Champion Hurdle. He faces just two opponents including Sam Winner, fourth to stable mate Zarkandar in the Triumph Hurdle.

Seventeen runners go to post in the  three mile Betfred.com Handicap Chase and Strongbows Legend looks likely to improve for his run at Carlisle last month when he was a beaten favourite. Anything trained by Victor Dartnall cant be discounted and Honourable Arthur could also bounce back to his best after a break.

Another trainer in invincible form is Jeremy Scott and he saddles Gunna Be A Devil in the concluding handicap hurdle. He started favourite in a similar race at Chepstown in March but finished down the field. With Scott at the top of the trainers’ hot list, the gelding is likely to run well.

TOP LINE UP FOR BETFRED HALDON GOLD CUP DAY, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1

Captain Chris is on course to make his seasonal debut at Exeter on Tuesday in the Betfred Haldon Gold Cup. The grade 2 limited handicap chase has attracted an exceptionally high quality entry of 14 and includes horses which are expected to play an important part in the big races coming up as the season progresses.

Captain Chris won the 2011 Arkle and followed that win with success in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown. His in-form trainer Philip Hobbs has made no secret about the fact he could be a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse. “He has been an absolute star and is developing into an exceptional horse winning three times over fences,” he said.