Racehorse trainer to auction off Bruce Springsteen Sunderland gig tickets (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Racehorse trainer to auction off Bruce Springsteen Sunderland gig tickets

9:20pm Monday 18th June 2012 in News

A RACEHORSE trainer who has been forced to miss out on one of the region's biggest musical events of the summer is auctioning the tickets for charity.

Michael Dods, from Denton Hall, near Darlington, is swapping one 'rock star' for another - his horse Rock The Runway is racing at Royal Ascot in Berkshire on Thursday, the same day American superstar Bruce Springsteen takes to the stage at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

As he is unable to use the six tickets he bought to see the Born in the USA star, Mr Dods has decided to auction them to raise money for St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington.

He said: "Unfortunately, work has to come first and we have runners racing on Thursday so we won't be able to make the concert.

"We have seen him before a few years ago at St James' Park in Newcastle. He was really good then so we thought we would buy some tickets."

Mr Dods was due to go to the concert with his friend Mike Sunley and he said the charity they have decided to raise money for is close to their hearts.

"Mike is involved with the horse too so he can't make it either.

"His sister died from cancer a couple of years ago so we thought it would be good to raise money for the hospice."

The tickets will be auctioned live on Star Radio on Wednesday from 11am.

Mark Reason, managing director of Star Radio, said: "The Bruce Springsteen gig is a much-anticipated event in the region, so we are pleased to team up with Mr Dods to enable some of our listeners to go along. The fact we will also be able to help raise money for a cause as worthwhile as St Teresa's Hospice makes it all the better."