Dettori in saddle as racing fan Marie becomes owner for the day

PA Sport Reporters
June 27, 2020 3:30 pm

Racehorse Lotto’s raffle raises more than £10,000 for NHS appeal.

Marie Jepps will have the services of Frankie Dettori at her disposal when she becomes a racehorse owner for the day, after winning Racehorse Lotto’s Frankie Dettori NHS Raffle.

The raffle, run by the newly-launched Racehorse Lotto and supported by Racing Breaks, raised in excess of GBP 10,000 for the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Appeal and offered entrants the chance to experience the thrill of ownership for a day at the races in 2021.

The lucky winner from Bedfordshire can select her own racing silks, call upon the great jockey for the big day and enjoy a two-night stay in one of Newmarket’s luxury hotels.

She also gets a tour of the Jockey Club training grounds and gallops in Newmarket, together with a behind the scenes tour of one of Newmarket’s racing stable yards and the National Stud.

She will also be invited to visit the Palace House: National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art museum and gallery, before enjoying a champagne afternoon tea and tour at the luxurious Jockey Club Rooms.

“Oh gosh, we absolutely love Frankie!,” she said.

“He is my favourite jockey, and I cannot believe I’ve won such a fantastic prize. I am shocked.”

For her silks, Jepps said: “We have been thinking about red, white and blue. They’re the colours of our national flag, and blue is my favourite colour. I absolutely love diamonds, so if we can have a diamond pattern on the silks I would be very happy!”

Dettori said: “I’m delighted for Marie. She seems very excited about the prospect of having me ride a horse for her, and now the pressure is on me to try and win the race!”

Hugh O’Donnell, founder and chief executive of Furlong Gaming, the parent company of Racehorse Lotto, said: “Calling Marie to tell her she had won was brilliant. She’s a massive Frankie fan and is now hugely excited about the opportunity of having him ride for her, and in the silks of her choice.”