RACE-goers at the famous Goodwood racecourse in west Sussex were offered the chance to back horses of a very different kind when the racecourse hosted the national Courses for Horses fund-raising initiative.

As well as betting on races, punters who attended yesterday's Goodwood evening races were asked to dig deep in their pockets to help the millions of working equine animals toiling in developing nations.

Throughout the evening, race-goers were given the chance to learn about the Courses for Horses initiative, launched by Brooke, the world's leading charity for the welfare of working horses.

TV presenter and horse enthusiast Anthea Turner is backing the scheme, saying: "My sister Wendy and I saw the Brooke tending sick and injured horses in Egypt and India. I'll never forget the number of animals that came to them with horrifying open sores, caused by ill-fitting saddles.

"But my enduring memory is of the care given by the charity's vets to such brave and faithful creatures."