Over 4,000 Racegoers Are Coming Together In Aid Of Starlight

Trainer Jonny Portman’s wife Sophie shares how their daughter’s healthcare play experience inspired raceday involvement

Wednesday 14th May 2025

Over 4,000 racegoers are coming together to watch seven thrilling races at Newbury Racecourse to raise money for Starlight – the national charity that aims to put play at the heart of children’s healthcare.

Led by champion trainer, Nicky Henderson LVO OBE, the generous racing community has been gathering for over 20 years for Starlight to support the charity’s work to reduce healthcare trauma and promote current and future wellbeing.

On Friday 16 May, racegoers, alongside audiences on ITV4 and Sky Sports Racing, will watch seven gripping flat races.

The play support racehorse trainer Jonny Portman’s daughter experienced in hospital more than 12 years ago motivated his wife Sophie to join the Starlight Raceday Committee.

Their daughter Eliza, now 16, and fully recovered, was admitted to hospital seriously unwell aged two and a half which resulted in four hours of surgery and a ten-day hospital stay to treat a rare intestinal abnormality.

Sophie said it was an extremely stressful experience: “We found out after two trips to the GP and one to our local hospital A&E that Eliza had internal bleeding caused by a congenital abnormality in her intestine called mekel diverticulum. She was given a blood transfusion there and was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital, an hour and a half drive away, for urgent surgery.

“The health play specialist at Southampton had a box of distraction toys which she used with Eliza and it was so amazing that she did not even notice that they had put a cannula in!” explained Sophie. “It was so reassuring for me to know Eliza was being supported in this way during this very scary experience for all of us.”

Every day following surgery, and when Eliza was well enough, the health play specialist made sure there was something for the toddler to do to pass the time, including play sessions with other young patients to make the experience of being in hospital as fun as possible, explained Sophie.

She added: “I decided I wanted to do something to support Starlight and when I found out they held an annual raceday it was a perfect match for me with my husband being a racehorse trainer – I knew I had to get involved. I’ve been on the committee ever since. I’m so grateful to Starlight and want to continue to help their work supporting children during their healthcare journeys.”

Starlight Raceday Committe chair, Nicky Henderson said: “I have been co-chairing the Starlight Race Day committees for more years than I can remember. Primarily in order to help this wonderful charity to deliver the vital services that they provide to so many seriously, and sometimes terminally, ill children. These days are always good fun and hugely supported by the racing fraternity.”

Shaun Hinds, Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse, said: “We are very much looking forward to the Starlight Charity Raceday and welcoming their guests to Newbury Racecourse. We are very proud to be able to support the work of such a fantastic charity with the raceday raising life changing amounts of money for children undergoing treatments in hospital.”

Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Starlight, said: “We cannot thank Nicky and the wonderful committee enough for making today possible and giving us all such a fun experience whilst raising life-changing money to reduce trauma for children in hospital. Play transforms sterile hospital rooms into spaces of comfort and control, turning scary procedures into manageable experiences. At Starlight we are dedicated to integrating play into healthcare to reduce trauma and improve results. The science is clear, and the impact is undeniable.”

Nicky and the event committee will be hosting 140 guests for a Starlight lunch in the panoramic Fred Winter Suite. Guests will take in spectacular views of the day’s events, whilst enjoying a drinks reception, gourmet lunch, afternoon tea and charity auction. They will also hear from a child with a chronic health condition who has been experiencing health-based trauma. She has, however, been able to laugh again, talk about her emotions and come to terms with what is happening to her through the work of a hospital-based health play specialist.

To find out how you can support Starlight’s work to ensure every child’s healing isn’t held back by trauma you can click the button below.