news RoR invites nominations for RoR Horse Personality of the Year

• Online nominations open now at www.ror-event.org.uk for the RoR Horse Personality of the Year
• Three finalists will be chosen by best selling author Jilly Cooper CBE
• Unique new award in honour of the late Paul Mellon marks 20^th anniversary year of RoR

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) today opens nominations for online entries from owners of former racehorses to find the winner of a brand new award, the RoR Horse Personality of the Year. The new award will recognise a former racehorse that has a great strength of character and personality in making the transition to a new life after racing.

Best selling author and horse lover Jilly Cooper CBE will help choose three finalists and the overall winner will be revealed by Clare Blading OBE at the prestigious RoR Elite Awards evening at The Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Saturday 18^thJanuary 2020.

The RoR Horse Personality of the Year comes in a year that marks the charity’s 20^thanniversary year and will be made in honour of the late Paul Mellon. RoR was privileged to receive a bequest of $3.5m from the estate of Paul Mellon, the owner of Mill Reef (the 1971 Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner) and countless other good racehorses. His legacy has been vital to establishing and funding RoR to promote the welfare of horses that have retired from racing.

Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of RoR, said:

“We want to find a horse that has a personality that has displayed outstanding versatility, kindness and character, and that will represent the special bond, passion and great achievements of some of the thousands of former racehorses that are lovingly rehomed and retrained each year. We hear some great success stories from riders and we hope that this award for the RoR Horse Personality of the Year will get people talking passionately about the rewards of owning a former racehorse.”

Entries are now open online at https://ror-events.org.uk/horse-of-the-year-entry-page/ from owners of former racehorses registered with RoR. Nominations must be received by 28^thNovember 2019. The shortlist of three finalists will be notified by 12^th December. Each of the three finalists will also receive a RoR rug, and the winner will be presented with the RoR Horse Personality of the Year Trophy.