Club’s fight to keep Windsorlot winning

The SF Racing Club in Cheslyn Hay is a small not for profit group that has two horses and a handful of members.

As with many small businesses, the coronavirus pandemic has plunged them into financial uncertainty and club owner Simon Whitehouse is calling for more members to come forward and stop horse Windsorlot – who has picked up several wins at Wolverhampton's Dunstall Park – from being forced into an early retirement.

"In terms of expenses, we still have to keep the horse in training and well looked after," Whitehouse said.

"The revenue for us to pay for that comes from winning races or getting placed, so obviously there is no opportunity for that.

"Some owners will have to let their ownership go and give up the horse.

"There's chat of us having to retire Windsorlot early as we can't afford to keep him in training, it could happen in the next month or two.

"We're trying every way possible to raise awareness and see if there is any interest to join the club and allow us to keep him in training and get some more seasons out of him.

"It's such a shame that after the wins at Wolverhampton before the break, we might have to lose him.

"If just two or three people were interested, it could really help us.

"For me, I'm trying to keep the club ticking over with owners paying in, which has dried up – it's very difficult.

"It's a frustrating time as he had just started to return to form.

"We normally have an open morning too, which was planned for the end of April, and that had to be cancelled.

"That is our way of attracting new owners and without it, it's hard to get the word out.

"In the grand scheme of things with what people are having to go through, it's insignificant, but for us it's massive to keep the club running.

"We need more people to help keep the club alive for future seasons."

Currently with members from Wolverhampton and Walsall, the club's horses and jockeys run in red, black and white – highlighting the colours of the Black Country flag.

For Whitehouse that is an important aspect of the club, while also bringing more eyes to the sport.

"We want more people involved in racing, it's sometimes seen as an exclusive thing and that's one thing I'm trying to battle against," he added.

"I'm not a wealthy person and I want to show that this sport is accessible.

"The Black Country thing is big too, we use the colours across the country.

"We don't always sell ourselves very well in the Black Country and it means a lot to me to fly the flag for the area."

More information can be found on the club's website at www.sfracingclub.co.uk or by contacting them on sfracingclub@gmail.com.