Race Nights

A Race Night is one of the most effective ways to raise money for your favourite charity or good cause.

Even after deducting the operator's fee, a well-run Race Night, with a hundred people at it, should raise about £1000.

Our professional Race Nights include:

  • * Races on DVD with an LCD projection system.
  • * Suitable screen for crowd or venue size - up to 8ftx8ft.
  • * A full PA system and background music for the duration of the race night.

Here's how it works.

On the Night...

All the guests bet on a horse or horses.

How a typical tote is calculated.

All bets set at £1 each. There are eight horses in each race. People can bet on any horse - but lets say the betting goes like this...

  • Horse 1 10 people bet on it = £10.00
  • Horse 2 16 people bet on it = £16.00
  • Horse 3 14 people bets on it = £14.00
  • Horse 4 8 people bet on it = £8.00
  • Horse 5 12 people bet on it = £12.00
  • Horse 6 6 people bet on it = £6.00
  • Horse 7 24 people bet on it = £24.00
  • Horse 8 10 people bet on it = £10.00

Total you collect is £100

50% £50 is taken for the charity - this is your profit

50% £50 is the prize pot - this will be returned to the winners of the race.

  • Horse 1 pays £5.00 to each winner
  • Horse 2 pays £3.00 to each winner
  • Horse 3 pays £3.00 to each winner
  • Horse 4 pays £6.00 to each winner
  • Horse 5 pays £4.00 to each winner
  • Horse 6 pays £8.00 to each winner - Outsider
  • Horse 7 pays £2.00 to each winner - Favourite
  • Horse 8 pays £5.00 to each winner

So, for example, if horse 4 wins the race £6.00 per bet is paid to everyone who placed bets on it.

8 bets at £6.00 per bet is paid out = £48.00. Profit on the race for the charity is £52.00 i.e. the £100 you took in for the race less £48 paid to the winners.

The percentage pay out to the punters can be set for each race to your specifications.



The Law Pertaining to Race Nights

This is taken from the Department for Culture Media & Sport Factsheet pertaining to Race Nights.

Definition of a race night

Race nights are events in which participants stake money on the outcome of recorded races and where the selection is totally dependent on chance and where no "odds" or "form" are available to assist the selection.

Proceeds go to purposes of the organisation or a charitable purpose but are not for private gain or commercial purposes.

How to run a race night

It is usual to run a race night as an amusement with prizes under section 15 of the Lotteries and Amusement Act 1976.

The race night must not be the sole attraction and must be part of an exempt entertainment such as a bazaar, sales of work, fete, dinner dance, sporting events or similar gatherings.

There are certain conditions set out in section 15, which must be observed when promoting and conducting a race night as an 'amusement with prizes at an exempt entertainment'. These are listed below.

  • The race night must not be the only, or only substantial, inducements to persons to attend the entertainment.
  • The whole proceeds of the entertainment, after deducting the expenses of the entertainment, must be devoted to purposes other than private gain.
  • The hire of any machinery to run the race night can be defrayed from the proceeds but not if it is made in some way dependent upon the extent to which the equipment is used. For instance profit sharing arrangements between equipment manufactures, hirers and promoters would not be allowed.

Registration requirements

There are no registration requirements.

NB. DCMS cannot give authoritative legal advice about every possibility in this area. We strongly advise any individual or company seeking to set up these or any other types of Fundraising events to seek independent legal advice."

For more information please go to www.culture.gov.uk.