Shepshed based lighting company, Illuma, has celebrated the first six months under its new owners by sponsoring a horse race at nearby Nottingham Racecourse. The race, "The Illuma – The Dawn Of A New Era Conditions Stakes" was the most valuable in the country on that particular day, and attracted top jockeys and horses.Illuma's managing director, Colin Gordon, a keen race-goer himself, presented the trophy to the trainer and owners of 'Shot to Fame', who won the race in a thrilling finish. The USA-bred horse is trained by Peter Harris at Berkhamsted, and the owners are a syndicate called the Conquistadors. 'Shot to Fame' was ridden by leading Irish Jockey Jonny Murtagh.
Illuma Lighting manufacturers a large range of downlights, uplights, spotlights and floods from a modern 41,000 sq ft site in Shepshed, Leicestershire. At the end of 2003, the company changed hands following a management buy-in spearheaded by two former colleagues from the international lighting company SLI, Colin Gordon and Dale Kitching. They and their colleagues chose "The Dawn of a New Era" as the company's new slogan.
