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The Jockey Club has confirmed that it will donate 10,000 tickets to the NHS and social care sector in Merseyside for the first day of the 2021 Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree.
The racecourse group, which owns Aintree racecourse, has also revealed that the first day of next year’s Festival will be renamed as Liverpool’s NHS Day in honour of the NHS staff and volunteers.
Dickon White, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses North West, said: “We’re delighted to donate 10,000 tickets to the NHS and professional carers across Merseyside. We’re also proud to rename the first day of the 2021 Randox Health Grand National as Liverpool’s NHS Day in recognition of the amazing NHS staff and volunteers.
“We understand just how hard the NHS and professional carers are working right now and this is our way of showing our gratitude.
Jockey Club leadership confirms that its ticket allocation process will begin at the start of next year, working with the relevant organisations to ensure that NHS staff are rewarded by the initiative.
Jan Ledward, chief officer at NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, the organisation which plans NHS care for the city, said: “Across local health and care, staff are working tirelessly to keep services running and give people the care they need, often in the face of significant challenges.
“Whether in GP practices, hospitals, community and mental health services, care homes, social care – or the many other areas that make up our local system – teams are showing incredible resilience and dedication. We’re delighted to see this enormous effort recognised.”
Yesterday, members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) committed to donating all profits from this weekend’s ‘Virtual Grand National’ to NHS Charities Together. Stakes will be limited to £10 per horse per customer, or £10 each way per horse.
The pre-recorded race, which will be broadcast on ITV at 17:00 on 4 April, will include the 40 runners who would have been most likely to take part using CGI technology and special algorithms
