Traditionally, Christmas is a time to give and one generous racing fan didn’t just play his part with an auction that included merchandise from some of the biggest in the industry. racing and horse racing.
CJ Cooper’s 31-lot auction raised £4,000 (US$4,901) and among the prizes won were rare items, including a Frankel package donated by Juddmonte, horse hat from Darley and Shadwell, Cheveley Park Stud’s Ulysses Packages and autographed photos from connections of superstars Baeed , Stradivarius and mountain climber .
Thank @JuddmonteFarms for the second Juddmonte/Frankel pack. This is awesome 🤩 can’t get that official Frankel merchandise anywhere else!! Go to auction for a short time. 🏻🎄 pic.twitter.com/6g9OhZMCuo
– (@CJRacingUK) November 29, 2022
A devoted fan of Jim Crowley and Shadwell, Cooper explains why she got into the sport: “I got into the sport living near Kempton Park and went there when I was young and just enjoyed it, before moving on to more tracks when I got more excited.”
One particular day by chance at Cheltenham’s November meeting 12 months ago, Cooper won a Lucky 15 bet of £3,000 ($3,676).
In a follow-up move that most of us wouldn’t make, the 23-year-old decided to buy a gift for a charity that cares for babies, children and young people with serious illnesses.
She said: “I couldn’t think of anything I needed at the time and there was an advertisement for Shooting Stars Hospice, so I went and got a lot of presents.
“I bet my win on my Twitter account and said: ‘Thank you Bet365 for your hospice money.’
Thanks to @newsellspark for these caps and beanies for Christmas this year! Really Appreciate The wider Racing Community has helped prove that when we all work together, we can do great things. 🏻🏇🏇 pic.twitter.com/FdKrmYYQd5
– (@CJRacingUK) November 23, 2022
“It was just a joke, making fun of the house, but people ignored it and said why don’t you start Just Giving or Amazon, so I started an Amazon and didn’t expect anything to happen. . had to branch out to three hospices and a hospital to pay for the gifts that were sent through the door!”
Another factor that helped her charity work go viral is Cooper’s connections in the industry and her social media followers—indeed, her Twitter account is a testament to her hard work. and her commitment to justice.
Cooper added: “A guy who works at Shadwell, Ed Beeton, was following me so he contacted me when I posted a Godolphin donation and asked if I would get some from Shadwell.
I just love everything 😂🏇🎁🎅🏻🎄 pic.twitter.com/YtA5jBRirO
– (@CJRacingUK) November 25, 2022
“I said no, I emailed but got no response, but those hats will now be delivered to Royal Mail shortly.
“I texted a few people and asked if they could reach out to Coolmore, Juddmonte, Cheveley Park, Godolphin and Newsells to see if there’s any way they could donate anything. If you don’t ask, you won’t get it, and I’ve explained why and where the money went. If I don’t get a response to the email, I just ask around and see who knows who.”
The great cause looks set to repeat, with Cooper aiming for a bigger event this time next year.
She said: “Because it’s based on Christmas and children’s presents, I’ll probably do it again next year but start earlier to get back in touch with all the studs and see if they deliver any. any commodity and create a bigger auction than nothing.”
