The Jockey Club will donate Grand National tickets to NHS staff next year.
The Jockey Club, the UK horseracing industry’s governing body, has announced plans to donate 10,000 tickets to the National Health Service (NHS) and social care sector for the first day of the 2021 Grand National event.
This news comes after The Jockey Club announced that the 2020 Grand National festival would be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, a virtual version of the race will be held on 4 April.
Free tickets for NHS staff
These tickets will be made available to workers in the Merseyside area as the Grand National takes place at the local Aintree Racecourse.
The tickets will only be valid for the opening day of the event on 8 April 2021. The day will also be renamed as Liverpool’s NHS Day to honour the work done by local staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ticket distribution process will begin in January 2021 and more details will be outlined later on this year.
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 re-name 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. The ticket process and distribution will begin at the start of next year and we’ll be working with the relevant organisations to ensure those who should benefit from the initiative are included.”
Jan Ledward, Chief Officer at NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), 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.”
