ONE of the leading races of its season headlines Fakenham’s Sky Bet Raceday on Sunday when the racecourse will show its support for farming and the rural community against the government’s decision to charge inheritance tax on farms.
On a day when two races are being shown live on ITV, Fakenham is inviting the farming community to bring its tractors to the meeting.
“Inheritance tax on farms will devastate traditional farming families, making it impossible for the next generation to inherit a family farm and continue to provide food for the nation. The effect of the tax will be felt far and wide and will have a hugely negative impact on the entire rural economy.
“As the only National Hunt racecourse in Norfolk, a county known for its food production and farming, Fakenham Racecourse is keen to show its solidarity at our Sky Bet Raceday,” said chief executive David Hunter.
“The take up from the local farming community has been great and anyone linked to the farming community is urged to bring their tractors and enjoy a day of racing on us,” he added.
“This is not a protest. This is an exciting day of high-quality racing. I would like the entire centre of the racecourse to be filled with line upon line of tractors to illustrate the sense of frustration the rural community has about this devasting farm inheritance tax the government is determined to implement.
“Fakenham Racecourse is very lucky to have the support and friendship of the Norfolk rural community, and this race day is a small way for us to repay that support,” he continued.
The two races from the seven-race card which starts at 12.30pm being shown live on ITV are the 2.45pm Sky Bet Cheltenham Non-Runner No Bet Mares’ Hurdle and the 3.20pm Sky Bet Queen Boudicca Series Final Mares’ Chase.
The latter is a £50,000 race with £26,000 to the winner. Initial entries number 18 and include several mares already successful in the series qualifiers leading up to Sunday’s final.
Fakenham Racing Club has its seven-year-old Kosasiempre in the line-up. Trained by Stuart Edmunds, the mare won at Leicester before finishing second behind Ede’iffs Rock at Fakenham’s pre-Christmas meeting.
Lucy Wadham’s Telepathique, a winner at Fakenham in October, is also entered. She beat Gazette Bourgeoise who went on to score at the Norfolk venue on New Year’s Day, beating Mick’s Jet, who is also entered.
Another returning course and distance winner is David Pipe’s Micronormous, while the prizemoney has also attracted several other quality mares, for what should be an enthralling event.
