Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Current Vice Chair of the Australian Turf Club Caroline Searcy will take up the mantle as the Chair of the ATC Foundation, as former ATC director Angela Belle McSweeney concludes her four-year tenure in the role. A former Chair of The Carbine Club of NSW, a fundraising organisation that invests in youth sport, Searcy is well prepared to continue the legacy left by McSweeney.
An honour and a privilege
A long-standing and well-respected figure in the racing world, McSweeney has overseen more than $1.2 million in donations to 90 charitable organisations during her tenure at the ATC Foundation, with a focus on organisations with links to racing and to the local areas around the four ATC race tracks.
“It was an absolute honour and privilege to serve as a director of the ATC for eight years and as Chair of the ATC Foundation for four years,’’ McSweeney said in a press release on Thursday evening.
“I was particularly proud to work with the amazing ATC team to achieve our goals and give back to racing and the community at large.” - Angela Belle McSweeney
“As a third generation family member of racing, I was particularly proud to work with the amazing ATC team to achieve our goals and give back to racing and the community at large.”
The Foundation has raised and given out more than $2.4 million since its establishment in 2018, generated through exclusive carnival pin sales, saddle cloth auctions, and charitable functions such as the Racing For Good raceday.
Angela Belle McSweeney | Image courtesy of realestate.com
In their recent ninth round of grants, the organisation gave out $167,832 worth of grants to 15 charitable entities and racing industry organisations, including Horse Aid, Riding For The Disabled Association, and the National Jockeys Trust.
For a good cause
“I would like to thank Angela Belle for her long-term contribution to the Foundation and to the ATC over many years, as a successful businesswoman who helps to make the racing world a better place,” said Searcy.
Media personality and another well-respected member of the racing fraternity, Searcy’s prior involvement in The Carbine Club inspired her to answer the Foundation’s call, and she is enthusiastic about continuing the Foundation’s work.
Caroline Searcy | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
“It’s great for the club to have this point of fundraising where we can distribute the funds across several charities and make a difference in a lot of areas,” she said. “During the droughts, we were able to contribute to sending hay up to northern New South Wales. I was interested in becoming part of a bigger organisation after my work with The Carbine Club, which is a smaller organisation focussed on sport.
“It’s great for the club to have this point of fundraising where we can distribute the funds across several charities and make a difference in a lot of areas.” - Caroline Searcy
“There is still the opportunity to grow the Foundation into something even bigger and to do even more good for people than we do now.”
Searcy is ready to embrace the “challenge” of fundraising within the catchment areas around the ATC’s four racecourses and finding new and different ways to raise funds. Being able to spread the donations across the whole region and several different charities is something else she looks forward to.
“There’s a number of hospitals and different kinds of charities within those areas that would benefit from a donation of just $10,000 or $5000,” Searcy said. “It doesn’t need to be a huge number to help them accomplish their goals and to really make a difference. It means a lot for those people, and it’s great for the club to get behind smaller charities.”
The importance of aftercare
“While we will continue to support local charities around all four of our racecourses, there are also great initiatives being explored to increase the Foundation’s support for the aftercare of Thoroughbreds, having recently supported organisations such as Equine Pathways Australia, Riding For Disabled, and other groups who create new pathways for ex-racehorses,” said Searcy.
“There are great initiatives being explored to increase the Foundation’s support for the aftercare of Thoroughbreds.” - Caroline Searcy
“We have for a number of years given money to Equine Pathways Australia, which is a fantastic organisation, and currently we are sponsoring the retraining of a horse called Francesco Guardi, who was an import trained by Chris Waller. He is being retrained to be a Paralympic horse, on the suggestion of former jockey and Paralympic rider Kate Nipperess.”
A son of Frankel (GB) who won over $1.1 million on the track, Francesco Guardi (Ire) won the G2 Moonee Valley Cup for Chris Waller and connections before his retirement in the autumn of 2025. The Foundation has funded his transition and training with Equine Pathways Australia’s founder Julia Battams ever since.
Francesco Guardi (Ire) with Charlie Duckworth at Equine Pathways Australia | Image supplied
“I am hoping that we can branch into more ways to help thoroughbreds off the track and help the people that are taking them on,” Searcy said.
“Riding For The Disabled is another group that we have had a lot to do with. I think this is an area in particular that we can grow, as the rehoming of thoroughbreds is so important to the whole industry. We will be very carefully and strategically working out how the Foundation can best help horses as they are retiring from racing.”
“I think this is an area in particular that we can grow, as the rehoming of thoroughbreds is so important to the whole industry.” - Caroline Searcy
The next round of grants will open for expressions of interest after the autumn carnival, and applications can be made via the ATC Foundation website.
