Set in the borough of Elmbridge, just outside Esher, Sandown Park opened in 1875 as the first purpose-built race course with paid admission and enclosures. In 2025, Sandown Park – which also happens to be a favourite among the royals – celebrated the milestone with varied events, celebrations and fundraising. Alongside Cheltenham Racecourse, Kempton Park Racecourse, Epsom Downs, and Newmarket Racecourse, and others, Sandown Park forms part of The Jockey Club, a group patronised by Queen Elizabeth II, with the patronage now held by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Now, as it approaches its 151st anniversary, Sandown Park has reaffirmed that its support for the Community Fund for Elmbridge is a long-term commitment. Launched in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey, the fund ensures Sandown Park’s anniversary marks the beginning of a legacy that’ll continue to support the local community long into its future.
The fund will remain the central focus in Sandown Park’s fundraising efforts, assisting charities, voluntary groups, and community projects throughout the borough.
Serving its community
Home to towns like Weybridge, Esher, and Cobham, and often dubbed the ‘Beverly Hills of Britain’ thanks to its high concentration of celebrity residents, the borough is often perceived as an affluent area. But Elmbridge also ranks among the most unequal boroughs in the UK in terms of household income, with many inhabitants relying on the support of local charities.
The Community Fund for Elmbridge helps address this disparity, distributing funding to projects working to support older people, children, and vulnerable members of the local community.
So far in 2026, Sandown Park has raised an impressive £16,240, which has been split between four local charities. These include:
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Citizens Advice Elmbridge West, to fund a complex needs caseworker for vulnerable residents
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Home-Start Elmbridge, to support families in crises through intensive local support
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The Horse Rangers Association, which empowers young people with disabilities through horse riding
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Rentstart, to improve support for individuals experiencing homelessness
![people standing in a row at a race course]()
When it’s not hosting the races, Sandown Park offers a range of event venues for summer parties, corporate events, and Christmas festivities.
General Manager at Sandown Park, Sarah Drabwell, said:
‘For 150 years, Sandown Park has been part of the fabric of the Elmbridge community. As we celebrated this important anniversary, it was vital for us to look beyond the year itself and create something with real, long-term impact.
“The Community Fund for Elmbridge reflects our commitment to supporting local people and causes, and we are proud that this fund will continue into 2026 and beyond as a cornerstone of our community engagement.
‘We are delighted that not only was this fund backed by the Mayor of Elmbridge Steve Bax, but we have also just made our first four grants totalling over £16,000.'
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