HOSPICE fundraisers said they were stunned to find the charity in the winners’ enclosure after an impromptu fundraising auction to own a leading trainer’s racehorse for a year.

Butterwick House Children’s Hospice, in Stockton, received a £25,000 boost following David Nicholls’ announcing, on the spur of the moment, he would offer a horse, his services as a trainer, race entry fees and the right to name the filly, while attending the annual Lobster Festival at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, County Durham.

Former jockey Mr Nicholls, of Sessay, near Thirsk, who is known in racing circles as The Sprint King, donated the rights to a two-year-old filly after learning the charity, which also has a hospice in Bishop Auckland, hoped to raise £20,000 from the event, which attracted 900 guests.

Hartlepool-based waste management firm Niramax, the hospice’s corporate partner, was first past the post with its bid of £25,000.

Mr Nicholls said the filly, yet to be named, has shown promise alongside the 100 other horses he trains with his wife, champion jockey Alex Greaves. He said: “I’ve had a few problems in my life and the nurses and doctors work so tirelessly to help people, so if a working-class lad like me can’t support them, what chance have they got?”

Mr Nicholls said the horse represented a massive adventure for Niramax.

He said: “They have no costs now, other than their donation to the Butterwick, so we hope they will have a lot of fun. The horse is active and she’s sound – she’s a lovely little baby really. She’ll run on local tracks – Redcar, Thirsk and maybe Gosforth Park. All we need is a bit of luck.”

Frank Antropik, managing director of Niramax, said it bid for the horse because the firm valued the work at Butterwick’s hospices in Bishop Auckland and Stockton.

He said: “I like racing myself, and it will be very exciting to own a horse, if only for a year. It will be good from a business point of view and good fun too.”

Butterwick chief executive, Graham Leggatt-Chidgey, said he was surprised and delighted at the winning bid, which more than doubled the total raised at the event to £40,000.

He said: “For David Nicholls to offer such a valuable prize is amazing. And for our already generous corporate partner Niramax to put up such a large amount is fantastic.”