Twenty-two Yorkshire-based charities, foundations and community groups are in the running for a £20,000 prize after being shortlisted for the Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake at York Ebor Festival this week.
Sky Bet has partnered with York Racecourse for the sweepstake, with each shortlisted organisation set to be assigned a stall number and paired with a horse competing in the Sky Bet Ebor.
The pairings will be unveiled during a live televised draw on Thursday 20th August, just two days before raceday on Saturday 22nd August.
The organisation paired with the winning horse will receive a £20,000 grant to support its cause.
Meanwhile, the charities matched with the second and third-placed horses will receive £5,000 and £2,000 respectively.
All shortlisted organisations will receive a minimum £1,000 contribution towards a designated project or initiative. This ensures each good cause benefits from taking part.
With entries from across Yorkshire, the shortlist represents a diverse range of causes, all looking to make a difference to their respective communities.
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The final 22 shortlisted good causes are
- Aphasia Support
- Barnsley FC Community Trust
- Brainkind
- CHSF
- Cultural Connections York CIC
- Endo Buddies CIO
- Equine Pathways UK
- FareShare Yorkshire
- Health Stars
- Help 4 Homeless Veterans
- Horticap Ltd
- Hull & East Riding Breast Friends (HER Breast Friends)
- Kingfisher Café
- Kirklees Theatre Trust
- Kyra Women’s Project
- Open Country
- Oscar’s
- Pseudomyxoma Survivor
- Smiles For Miles
- Street Angels York
- The Partially Sighted Society
- Worthwhile Occupations and Recreational Krafts
Incredible causes
James Brennan, head of marketing and sponsorship at York Racecourse, commented on the final shortlist.
He said: “The hardest part of running the sweepstake each year is narrowing down the applications to our final shortlist, especially with so many incredible causes applying.
“It’s wonderful to see applicants from across Yorkshire represented again this year and the final 22 are a great reflection of the amazing work happening across the county.
“With the Sky Bet Ebor Festival Community Sweepstake just around the corner, we can’t wait to celebrate every one of these deserving bodies.”
“Choosing the final 22 has been challenging, but we’ve got a good mix involved this year, and we’re eager to see them all take part.
“We are now looking forward to the live draw event on Thursday 20th August, which is one my favourite days of the festival and where our good causes find out which horse they’ll be rooting for.
“We wish them all the best of luck for raceday on the 22nd of August!”
READ MORE: York Ebor Festival Guide 2026: Dates, race times, TV schedule, dress code & ticket prices
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