With Cheltenham saddling up for the historic Cheltenham Festival next week, Gloucestershire-based Penguin Uniform is celebrating partnerships with three leading local race teams competing on the biggest stage.
Supplying uniform to industries from construction to healthcare, Penguin already has a glowing reputation nationally for its provision of high-quality branded workwear for businesses and organisations of all sizes.
Now, as thousands head to Cheltenham Festival and millions more tune in around the world, its uniform will be making sure top local race teams Fergal O'Brien, Kim Bailey and Nigel Twiston Davies — and their sponsors — are well represented as they strive for success on the course.
Penguin has provided the teams with a range of outdoor garments including waterproof and softshell jackets; fleece gilets and sweatshirts; polo shirts; bobble hats; and winter snoods, ensuring they're well equipped to compete whatever the weather.
Having re-built the business from the ground up after the Covid-19 pandemic — with annual turnover increasing by more than 800 per cent in four years — the firm's involvement in the festival is a proud moment for Penguin's owner Jared Wilson.
Jared first become acquainted with top trainer Fergal O'Brien when he joined local business and horse racing network, Front Runners, which has a horse in training at Fergal's yard.
They began working together this season and Jared says that Fergal has gone 'above and beyond' to push Penguin to other local yards, leading to triple representation for the firm at this year's festival.
Jared said: 'As an independent business pitched in the heart of the Cotswolds it has always been an ambition to work within the horse racing sector. We are fortunate to have some of the UK's best trainers on our doorstep.
'Proud wouldn’t do it justice that for the yards competing on the grandest stage for National Hunt racing, our local business is playing a small role for the trainers, their staff and of course sponsors in ensuring they get the advertising and exposure they truly deserve.'
Fergal O'Brien added: 'The Penguin Uniform team are helpful, very knowledgeable and ever so efficient. It is a pleasure to work with them and we could not recommend them more!
'Yard work and riding out means the team puts the clothing through a lot and have to tackle some of the worst conditions daily. It is so important that we get something that's suitable, hardwearing and comfortable with the added bit of class on race days and we have found that with our current kit!
'To be successful you try and always do things professionally, we want to tick all of the boxes we can. The team leading up have the chance to win 'Best Turned Out' for the horse and equally we want our team to be looking its best to represent the yard, owners and our sponsors Bresbet.
'We then just need a bit of luck on the day, here’s to hoping this week could be it!'
