Lyndhurst charity rider Steph needs backers for race of her life

A YOUNG Lyndhurst commoner with impressive equestrian track record is going flat out to make her name in a once-in-a-lifetime chance on a “proper” racecourse but urgently needs more charity backers.

Steph Davies (32), an administrative manager for Farm & General farming insurance brokers in Lyndhurst and an active commoner with small herd of ponies, has won a coveted place in the British Horse Society charity event at Newbury Racecourse in November after missing out when entries opened.

She told the A&T: “As luck would have it the opportunity presented itself again when someone sadly had to drop out. While I am so excited to have been given the opportunity, my late entry to the race means that I have a lot of catching up to do both in fitness, with a fairly gruelling fitness test to be passed in order to compete, and time to raise the minimum sponsorship requirement of £2,500.”

So far Steph is just a fifth of the way there with her appeal page at justgiving.com/fundraising/stephanie-davies54.

On it she says: “I am never one to shy away from a challenge, particularly when that challenge involves racing! I have been super lucky in grabbing a last minute place in a mile flat race at Newbury racecourse in aid of the BHS.

“I am racing against 11 other riders (if we all pass the fitness test!) and will be having my horse provided by Seamus Mullins racing.

“Seamus has kindly provided me a horse before when I did a charity race at Larkhill point-to-point course in aid of racing welfare, which amazingly we won! I have always loved racing, I regularly compete in the New Forest Boxing Day point-to-point and was second for seven consecutive years before finally winning in 2021.”

A Lyndhurst girl all her life, Steph learnt to ride at Ford Farm Stables at the age of three and has been riding there ever since, riding for owners Trudy Nineham and James Young as well as her own ponies.

She added: “Although I have ridden in a couple of similar style races at Larkhill in previous years, getting to ride on a proper racecourse has always been a dream of mine and I could not be more excited and nervous to have got the chance. I will need all your support, help and sponsorship to reach my goal!”