As the theme sponsor for this year’s Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby Racecourse on Thursday 31st May the RPRA entered our own mascot in this famous race – Homer the Pigeon, represented by Mark Pass of Nantwich, Cheshire.

This was the seventh running of the Gold Cup, the world’s largest Mascot race, and formed part of a full programme of horse racing on the evening, raising about £100,000 for various charities, including co-organisers Sue Ryder.

Homer took part in the parade and warm up in the Parade Ring before running in the race itself over six hurdles along the final furlong (220 yards) in front of the Grandstands. Homer was working his way well through the field before falling at the last! Eddie the Edgehog went on to win the race.

Footage of the race can be seen at this link.

 Mark said “I would like to thank the RPRA for giving me the opportunity to run as the RPRA mascot. I feel it was a great honour and a very good and enjoyable experience, although I fell at the last fence!! But all was well when I met Tony McCoy!!! I would like to thank all the people that sponsored me as I managed to raise aprox £200 for the Sue Ryder charity, which I hope to add to in the future as I plan to take part in a few more runs, maybe even a marathon!. Finally I would like to thank all the support I had from customers (pigeon fanciers) at work from as far as Preston and Wigan”.

Well done, and thanks Mark.