Suffolk Chamber supports landmark day for US Visiting Forces and families at Newmarket Racecourse

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce was proud to support the inaugural United States Visiting Forces (USVF) Members and Families Raceday, held at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday 17 May. The event welcomed almost 4,000 individuals, including service personnel and their families, from across USAF bases in the region.

Organised in collaboration with The Jockey Club, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and Honorary Commanders of the 48th Fighter Wing, the Raceday formed part of Newmarket’s Family Spring Racing Weekend. It provided US personnel stationed in the East of England with a unique opportunity to experience one of Britain’s most historic sporting venues in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Admission was offered free of charge to those holding a valid USAF military or civilian pass, with attendees travelling from bases including RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Croughton and RAF Alconbury. As well as a full race card, visitors enjoyed heritage aircraft displays, vintage vehicles and re-enactments, helping to celebrate shared cultural and historical links between the UK and the US.

Sophie Able, General Manager of Newmarket Racecourses, said: “We were delighted to welcome over 2,500 members of the US Air Force and their families to Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse on Saturday, most of whom had not been racing before. Our Family Extravaganza is a Raceday that all can enjoy, and it was great to see so many of them with us.”

“With the promotion available to all those with a valid USAF personnel pass, we were delighted to welcome those from RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Croughton & RAF Alconbury, all of which are located within close proximity to Newmarket. The day provided a great opportunity for us to showcase the racecourse to a new audience and showed how important the links are between Newmarket and the local community. We look forward to welcoming back many of these first-time racegoers, who hopefully have learned more about the sport through their day with us.”

Richard Ashton, 48th Fighter Wing Honorary Commander, said: “It was wonderful to see so many of the USVF community able to enjoy a day’s racing at Newmarket. A key part of the Honorary Commander programme is delivering activities for those based in the UK whilst serving in the US Air Force, the 17th of June delivered that at so much more. There are over 20,000 serving personnel and their families based in the UK as part of the community. To be able to engage on such a scale is a first and thanks to Suffolk Chambers of Commerce in the part they played in making this happen”.

Steve Elsom, Honorary Commander, USAF Lakenheath, said: “The USVF Raceday was a great opportunity to bring communities together and to further strengthen the USAF relationship with Suffolk Chamber. The weather was superb and over 2500 service personnel and their families enjoyed a day of fine racing and entertainment, which included the appearance of two classic planes from yesteryear, a TF-51D Mustang and a P47 Thunderbolt. A fun time was had by all, and we are very grateful for the support and the welcome afforded by the team at Newmarket racecourse.”

Suffolk Chamber’s involvement reflects its wider mission to act as Suffolk’s advocate, encouraging collaboration between the county’s diverse communities and enhancing Suffolk’s reputation as a welcoming, globally connected region.

John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played a part in supporting such a meaningful and well attended event. The USVF Race Day at Newmarket was not only a celebration of sport and family fun, but a powerful symbol of the strong ties between Suffolk and the United States Visiting Forces. It underlined the importance of building relationships beyond the base gates, something the Chamber is fully committed to. We look forward to helping grow this initiative in the years to come.”

Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and stakeholders, there are now plans to establish the USVF Raceday as a recurring event in the region’s annual calendar, further deepening the longstanding ties between the US military presence and the Suffolk community.