ATC Foundation
Make An Impact
Make an Impact
with ATC Foundation
Be part of the Australian Turf Club Foundation’s mission to give back.
With a focus on community, industry and sustainability, we support vital causes that transform lives and protect the environment.
Your generosity fuels initiatives that matter most. Together, we can achieve incredible things. Donate today and help us make a difference!
OUR IMPACT
The ATC Foundation provides vital funding to programs that address specific needs within local communities, including equine-assisted therapy, family support and educational services.
These programs highlight the ATC Foundation’s commitment to addressing critical social challenges and creating positive, lasting impacts in local communities.
The ATC Foundation recently announced its ninth round of grants, distributing over $150,000 to various charities and racing industry organisations. This brings its total assistance to over $1.9 million since 2018.
The funds were raised through Member and on-course donations, proceeds from the sale of official Carnival pins as well as saddlecloth auctions associated with Group 1 Australian Turf Club races.
Recent Grant Recipients
Horse Aid
The ATC Foundation proudly provided $10,000 to support Horse Aid’s equine assisted healing programs, which deliver free, transformative horsemanship experiences for serving and ex-serving defence personnel as well as first responders living with trauma related mental health challenges.
This grant helps Horse Aid expand its capacity to retrain and rehome Thoroughbred ex-racehorses while providing life changing therapeutic pathways that rebuild confidence, resilience and wellbeing.
Riding For The Disabled (RDA) Tall Timbers Centre
The ATC Foundation awarded $10,000 to support the RDA Tall Timbers’ work skills program around horse management, which equips young people with intellectual or physical disabilities with practical workplace skills, confidence and independence through equine assisted learning.
This funding helps the RDA Tall Timbers centre continue delivering life changing experiences that build capability, communication and future employment pathways.
Riding For The Disabled (RDA) Mudgee Centre
The ATC Foundation granted $10,000 to RDA Mudgee to support the purchase of a specialised 4WD vehicle, ensuring volunteers can safely and reliably transport the centre’s therapy horses across challenging terrain.
This investment strengthens the centre’s capacity to deliver its life changing equine assisted programs for children and adults with disabilities throughout the Mudgee and Gulgong communities.
National Jockeys Trust
The ATC Foundation provided $10,000 to support the National Jockeys Trust in expanding dedicated welfare assistance for injured and ill jockeys, enabling more personalised case management and vital support for riders facing financial hardship, medical challenges and long-term recovery.
This funding helps ensure jockeys and their families receive the compassionate, hands-on care they need during some of the most difficult periods of their lives.
Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy (ARCC) Inc.
The ATC Foundation awarded $5,000 to support a pilot program introducing a dedicated Chaplain for racing industry workers from non-English speaking backgrounds, helping them navigate workplace, cultural and personal challenges with compassionate, practical support.
This initiative strengthens wellbeing across the racing community by ensuring more workers can access guidance, connection and care tailored to their needs.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney
The ATC Foundation contributed $50,000 to support the establishment of a new sponsored room within the Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney (RMHC GWS) House-in-the-Hospital at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, providing families of seriously ill or injured children with free on-site accommodation, meals and emotional support during hospital stays.
This funding helps create a vital, comforting space for thousands of Western Sydney families each year, ensuring they can remain close to their child’s bedside during their most challenging moments.
The Reconnect Project
The ATC Foundation provided $10,000 to The Reconnect Project to support its Staying Connected initiative, which supplies refurbished laptops and smartphones to disadvantaged young adults, women escaping domestic violence as well as people facing severe financial hardship.
This funding helps bridge the digital divide by ensuring vulnerable community members can access essential technology for education, employment, safety and everyday connection.
Autism Swim
The ATC Foundation provided $10,000 to Autism Swim to support its Dippers program, a modified surf education initiative that empowers neurodivergent participants to safely and confidently engage in beach and aquatic environments.
This funding helps deliver clinician-supported sessions that reduce drowning risk, build vital skills and foster meaningful community connection for participants and their families.
Events
The ATC makes a significant impact through its fundraising events, supporting vital causes and local communities.
Highlights include raising $42,300 to fund a new mental health initiative, providing a weekly psychology clinic for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment through the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and hosting the Racing for Good Charity Raceday, which brings together hundreds of guests to support multiple charities.
These events demonstrate the ATC’s commitment to creating meaningful change and giving back to those in need.
Pink Fashion Lunch
Join us for a fabulous day of style, generosity and community spirit at the ATC Pink Fashion Lunch at Rosehill Gardens.
This annual event brings together over 600 guests, including industry leaders and corporate partners, to support vital causes and make a meaningful difference.
Racing For Good Charity Raceday
Celebrate the thrill of racing and the power of giving at the Racing for Good Charity Raceday at Royal Randwick.
This annual event unites the racing community, corporate partners and passionate supporters for a day dedicated to making a meaningful difference.
Donations & Grants
The Australian Turf Club is committed to our local community.
We have identified key areas of engagement and created initiatives with strategic partnerships to support local causes.
Donation Requests
We assist charity partners and local community groups with a wide range of donation requests that can be used for raffles, auctions and fundraising initiatives.
Grant Applications
We welcome applications for grants. The majority of our grants are made in response to applications and/or an expression-of-interest (EOI), although grants may be made in response to a need or opportunity proactively identified by the ATC Foundation.
Memorabilia
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) Foundation Carnival pin sales and saddle cloth auctions turn iconic racing memorabilia into meaningful support for those in need.
From mental health services to educational initiatives and support for families facing medical challenges, your contribution goes a long way.
Carnival Pins
Join us in making a difference by purchasing a Carnival pin at our next raceday or online!
Each pin you buy helps fund vital community programs supported by the ATC Foundation.
Saddle Cloth Auctions
Bid on exclusive saddle cloths from marquee races like the TAB Golden Slipper, the TAB Everest as well as the King Charles III Stakes (registered as the George Main Stakes) and help raise vital funds for charity.
About Us
In 2018, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) created the ATC Foundation to give back to the community and make a real difference across Sydney and NSW.
The ATC Foundation supports not-for-profit organisations through grants that help horse racing industry participants, fund meaningful projects and tackle important social issues.
The ATC Foundation proudly leads the way for the racing industry and beyond, championing initiatives that strengthen the local communities around our four racecourse locations.
Through its work, the Foundation reflects the heart of the ATC – our business, our people and our Members – by creating positive impacts for both the racing industry and the wider community.
The ATC Foundation holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 2 status and can donate only to registered charities with DGR Item 1 and Tax Concession Charity approval.
Latest News
The ATC Extends Membership In The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Network
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) is proud to extend its official membership in the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, demonstrating..
ATC Foundation Awards $167,832 In Grants To Charities and Racing Industry Groups
The Australian Turf Club Foundation will distribute $167,832 in funds to 15 charities and racing industry organisations as part of..
ATC Foundation Calls for Ninth Round of Grant Applications
The ATC Foundation has called on registered charities aligned with the NSW Thoroughbred racing industry along with community organisations to..