Last week, a group of people we support from across our services headed over to Haydock Park in St Helens to experience the thrill of live horse racing!
We were the guests of Autism in Racing, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) set up to support and encourage autistic people to enjoy horse racing as spectators or employees.
We were met by Gaz from Autism in Racing, who showed us to our balcony suite, kindly provided by Haydock Park, from where the people we support could have a base to watch the races, or retreat inside to relax.
Gaz made sure each table in the suite had sensory toys, and activities like wordsearches and colouring in to enjoy between races. There was also free tea, coffee and water laid on by the racecourse.
Autism in Racing aims to help autistic adults and children take part in social and supporting activities relating to horse racing across the UK; linking in with courses around the country to make a day at the races accessible and enjoyable to autistic people and their families.
Before the afternoon’s racing began we were treated to a tour of the racecourse by Gaz and his colleague Anna from Autism in Racing. This included a look at the stables, parade ring and weighing room.
As part of the tour we got to meet the current UK Champion Jockey for flat racing, William Buick. William is an ambassador for Autism in Racing and has an autistic son, so is passionate about making racing more accepting of and accessible to autistic people. He also gave us a tip on his best ride of the day, which romped home in first place!! Thanks William!
Then it was back to our suite to watch the races from our unrestricted vantage point.
Many of the people we support had never been to a race meeting before, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even having a little flutter on the horses, with some people having great fortune picking the winners!
Huge thanks to Autism in Racing and Haydock Park for looking after us so grandly on the day. It’s an experience the people we support won’t forget.
