Godolphin 1000 mile challenge

Over 200 Godolphin staff took part in a novel fund-raiser for Racing Welfare when running, walking and jogging over 1000 miles at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket (UK), on Sunday.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin have been so generous over the years to various charities, inside and outside racing," Hugh Anderson, Godolphin's UK Managing Director, explained.

"But this event was about the many people working for Godolphin here in Newmarket doing their personal bit for charity, showing a similar generosity of spirit, expressing that same desire to help others.

"And It has been good fun with our families involved. The whole day has been brilliant," he said.

Around 170 staff signed up to run legs of the 1,000-mile challenge. Some covered 10 miles, others five miles. Over 60 staff were on hand to help in the running of the event.

"We had a big proportion of the work force turn out, and they were from all areas of Godolphin, from fit work-riders to less-fit office staff like me," Anderson said.

"There were teams taking part -- and there were some individuals, who felt the challenge needed a bit more spice, so they carried 35lb packs on their backs, just to make it a bit tougher. With a supreme final effort from everyone we made it to 1040 miles which is about the distance from here to Rome.

"The great thing is that the event has been a talking point here at Godolphin for several weeks, and everybody has been caught up in it. It's been quite tough in this weather, but fun, and we hope His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and everyone at Team Godolphin are proud of what we have done today," he added.

Anderson said that Racing Welfare had been chosen specifically for the fund-raiser. "It covers everybody in racing. It is a great charity and it looks after those who need the most help in the industry.  We will have raised a lot of money for them. " he said.