Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, recently visited a local Coral shop in Seaford to place a £50 charity bet on the 2024 Grand National, with all winnings going to a good cause of her choice.
Maria chose the Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare to be the beneficiary, which is a local charity based in Ringmer which rescue and rehome animals. The charity is one close to Maria’s heart and she has a cat that she adopted from there.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the standards body for the regulated UK betting and gaming industry, invited MPs to visit either a Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral or Betfred shop in their constituency to place the free charity bet ahead of the world’s greatest steeplechase.
If the bet was successful, all winnings go direct to the MPs’ nominated charity, and if it does not, the charity will receive a £250 donation from the BGC.
The Grand National is the most popular horserace in the world and this year took place on Saturday, 13th April, at Aintree Racecourse. The sporting spectacular is watched by around 600 million people across 140 countries, and it’s estimated over 13 million adults in the UK will have a flutter on the outcome.
Maria placed a 7-1 bet on ‘I Am Maximus’ which went on to win the Grand National, meaning that Raystede will receive a £475 donation.
Commenting, Maria Caulfield MP Said
“The Grand National is one of those great sporting moments when the whole nation comes together. I was delighted to visit my local betting shop to meet the staff and customers, take up BGC's generous offer of a charity bet, and also discuss the incredibly important work they have been doing on safer gambling.
I was very pleased to have picked a winning horse and I am so glad that the money is going to such a worthwhile cause as Raystede.”