A day at the races
Holy Cross pupils were odds-on favourites
Hamilton Park Racecourse welcomed a group of enterprising secondary school students for a look behind the scenes.
Pupils from the town’s Holy Cross High participated in the Racing to School educational programme ahead of the venue’s Hamiltonian Raceday.
The interactive experience is designed to give pupils an opportunity to employ their maths, literacy and science skills in a variety of practical situations, from the weighing room to the race track.
Ashley Moon, head of marketing and operations at Hamilton Park Racecourse, said: “We have built a strong relationship with Racing to School and were thrilled to welcome them and the children of Holy Cross to the racecourse on our Hamiltonian Raceday.
“The Maths in Action workshop really allows young people to apply their many skills out in the world in new and exciting ways. For some of them, it was their first experience of a racecourse.
“So, as well as seeing first-hand the work that goes into making a fixture possible, it was great that we were able give them the full experience of a raceday itself.”
A group of 25 pupils from S1 and S2 visited key racecourse hotspots, including the weighing room and the parade ring, as they learned about everything from the strict weighing process to the science behind a racecard.
After a morning of applying their numeracy, literacy and science knowhow, the youngsters enjoyed the day’s thoroughbred action as the fixture got underway.
Carrie Ford, Racing to School’s regional education officer, said: “We aim to provide young people with really unique and valuable experiences through our sessions.
“Not only are they geared to help them apply their learning in a practical environment, but they also give them a taster of the world of work.
“The pupils from Holy Cross really put their knowledge to the test, as they learned about the science of the racecourse and the many important roles carried out, and I think they took a lot away from the day.”
Racing to School – formerly the British Horseracing Education Standards Trust – is a charity which relies on voluntary donations to provide its free education programme.
Each year, it takes more than 10,000 young people to yards and studs.
Back at the racecourse, the 2017 Hamiltonian Raceday saw a host of quality racing action, including the £12,000 feature race, the Weatherbys Private Banking Hamiltonian Handicap Stakes (Class 4), racecourses, trainers’ which was won by Gulf Of Poets.
And throughout June, the exciting season is continuing to gather momentum, with three fixtures in store at the racecourse.
For more information on Hamilton Park Racecourse’s fixtures, visit www.hamiltonpark.co.uk.