In a charity ride in the UK, highly acclaimed eventing rider Mark Todd rode in his first racing event. 

Today Sir Mark Todd, New Zealand’s most famous equestrian, fulfilled an ambition to ride in a horse race when he took part in a charity event at Newbury racecourse in England.

Although the race was won by Maisie Turner, Sir Mark finished an honourable fifth of 11 on the Charlie Hills trained Ledbury.

“If this horse was a person he would be your beer drinking lad,” said the trainer afterwards, “and her really needs a longer trip but I did think Sir Mark gave him a lovely ride.”

New Zealand’s Olympian was not the only gold medal winner in the contest. It was the public riding début of Victoria Pendleton, who won Olympic Gold in the cycling in 2012. She is in training to ride at the Cheltenham Festival next year. Her trainer, the former eventer Chris King was also in the race.

Sir Mark came top in the battle of the Olympians as Victoria could only manage eight place on Mighty Mambo.

“I always wanted to do this so when I was called by Charles Edgerton who was organising this for the charity, I jumped at the chance, because it was in aid of a great charity as well,” said Todd. “Riding in a race is quite different from training racehorses and the silks were tighter than I was expecting! I thought as I came round the last bend that I might win but Ledbury just kept on at the same pace. It has been great fun and I am very grateful to Charlie Hills and Qatar Racing (who own Ledbury) for lending me their horse so I could raise so much money for Key4Life.”

The George Frewer Celebration Sweepstakes was run in aid of Key4Life which was founded by Eva Hamilton MBE after seeing so many young people involved in the riots of 2011 in England. The charity has a seven step plan to help rehabilitate young offenders and they use horses in the programme as well as work placements and mentoring.

Source: Equestrian Sports New Zealand Photos and words by Lulu Kyriacou