DOWN Royal Racecourse continues to set the benchmark for hospitality. The northern track’s summer racing brochure popped through our letterbox this week and it is a very impressive presentation.

As well as promoting the various racegoer options for the Galway Plate Trial and Magners Derby on Friday and Saturday, June 23rd-24th, the smart booklet also has details of a special accommodation package in the Europa Hotel. A weekend in Belfast before the border comes back, anyone?

Charity partners for Sir Peter

THE Irish Field, in partnership with At The Races and the Racing Post, have launched the inaugural ‘Voice Of Racing’ project, a fund-raising initiative designed to give something back to three of the sport’s most important charities, namely the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust and the British and Irish Injured Jockeys funds.

From now until the annual Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust Award lunch on November 23rd, The Irish Field, ATR, and the Racing Post will raise funds and support the efforts of others across the sport with proceeds being split 50% to the Trust and 25% to each of the injured jockeys funds.

The focal point of the project will be the inaugural Voice Of Racing Day, June 30th.

Cartmel, Doncaster and Great Yarmouth host fixtures in the afternoon followed in the evening by Chester, Newcastle, Newmarket and the Curragh.

At The Races, broadcasting live from four of the racecourses, will showcase the beneficiary charities through a series of features, interviews and special coverage across the day.

Viewers, online users and social media followers will be encouraged to pledge donations.

Donations can be made online at justgiving.com/voiceofracing.