Bournemouth Care Home Residents Were The Front-Runners At The Salisbury Races

Staff members from Care South’s Castle Dene care home in Bournemouth took residents on a day out to Salisbury racecourse to watch the horse racing and enjoy a picnic made by the home’s Chef before a winning conclusion to the day.

Residents and staff members made fruit scones for the day trip the previous day, with everyone enjoying them at the racecourse with clotted cream and jam whilst sitting in the sunshine.

When each race was due to start, residents watched the horses go to the starting gates and picked their favourite horse. Once the race started, residents moved to the fence to be as near as possible to the action and cheered on the horses they had chosen. For the last race of the afternoon, one of the staff members husbands paid for everyone to place a bet on a horse with their favourite name. Between residents and staff members, they backed the winning and second placed horse! The winnings were taken back to the home for everyone to enjoy.

Two residents from Castle Dene used to own a horse and said about the day: “What a wonderful day it was. It meant the world to us to watch the horses race.”

Another resident from Castle Dene said: “My dad used to be a Carter, making carts for the horses. I have been surrounded by horses for most of my life and what a fantastic day I had.”

Lesley Wheal, Activities Organiser at Castle Dene, commented: “What an incredible day out this was for residents in our care. It was lovely watching everyone in their element getting involved in picking their favourite horses and cheering them on. It bought back some wonderful memories for residents who have had close connections with horses in their lifetimes. Everyone said that they had a fabulous day and have already asked to return again next year.”