Record entries line up for the third running of the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships which gets underway at Aintree’s International Equestrian Centre on Tuesday 22nd August and runs through to the weekend, concluding with the ROA and Goffs UK National Showing Championships on Saturday and Sunday.

Over 1,000 entries including 290 ex-racehorses, such as Grade 1 winners Monet’s Garden, Grand Crus and Peddler’s Cross have been entered for the six day spectacle. These equine stars have competed in 4,707 races which resulted in 560 wins and £6.6 million in prize money throughout their racing careers.

Also entered are many established RoR stars of the show-ring, including previous winners at the National Championships, Beware Chalk Pit, Master Of Arts and Nicene Creed, along with winners of major showing classes this year, such as Barbers Shop and Imperial Ruby.  Notable horses holding dressage entries include two of The Queen’s horses, Quadrille and Prince’s Trust, and Namibian, who has enjoyed success in Para-dressage.

The strength and depth of entries shows Aintree Racecourse’s on-going, year round commitment to promoting horse welfare which will be on public display for six days in August and free to the public.

In addition to the top class line-up of equine talent, Lady Chanelle McCoy will be judging the Glamour Stakes and sporting soprano and Aintree Ambassador, Laura Wright will be performing a repertoire of classical hits at the Gala Evening.

Carly Sage, Aintree Equestrian Centre Manager, said: “We’re thrilled with over 1,000 entries and 290 ex-racehorses competing in the RoR Championships this year.  It’s also great to see equine legends such as Monet’s Garden, Midnight Chase, Mad Moose and Grands Crus joining us, which shows great depth in the quality of horses as well as an exceptional growth in numbers competing in such an important event for the sport. “Although only in its third year, the RoR National Championships has already established itself as a key event in our calendar and shows the priority Aintree and racing puts on the welfare of horses. “As well as the fantastic equine displays, we’re delighted to have Lady Chanelle McCoy to judge the style stakes and sporting soprano and Aintree ambassador, Laura Wright performing at the RoR Gala evening event.

“It’s free to attend all six days with plenty of different Equestrian events taking place – we look forward to a fabulous six days of competition.”

This year the event has been expanded and runs over six days with the showing championship finals taking place on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August, the highlights on the final day being the RoR Elite Showing Series Final and the crowning of the ROA and Goffs UK Supreme Champion, worth £2,500 to the winner.

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), said: “It is going to be a special week for the charity, one where the former racehorse will truly hold centre stage and show off their talents in a range of disciplines against the best of their peers. The quality and quantity of the entries is testament to the hard work of our team at Aintree and as a result we are very much looking forward to a fabulous six days of competition.

“Our thanks again to all the parties who have supported RoR qualifying classes, the finals of which are being held at Aintree and, in particular, the Racehorses Owners Association and Goffs UK for their sponsorship of the National Showing Championships.”

Other championship finals on the weekend include The Jockey Club RoR Novice Show Series Final, RoR Amateur Ridden Showing Series and RoR Open In Hand Showing Series Final, the RoR / Tattersalls Special Final and the RoR Veteran Championship. The show culminates on Sunday evening with a Gala Dinner and the awarding of the supreme champion.

For the first time as part of the event, Aintree will host the RoR Dressage Championships and these run from Tuesday to Thursday, while a highlight on Friday will be the RoR/TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge Final.

RoR is British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses that have retired from racing. The welfare of the racehorse begins long before it reaches a racecourse and ends long after its racing career and Aintree’s partnership with RoR as well as British Racing’s The Horse Comes First initiative, which aims to improve understanding of the care given to our horses throughout and after their careers in racing, shows the priority Aintree and The Jockey Club puts on the welfare of horses, not only when they compete but after they retire as well.

Entry is free to the public on all six days of the RoR Championships at Aintree Racecourse.