Fast Facts
Principal organisation: British Horseracing Authority (BHA)
Racecourses: 59
Registered thoroughbred foal crop of 2019: 4,748 (Weatherbys)
Thoroughbred racehorses in training: 14,000 approx. (BHA)
Most famous flat race: Epsom Derby, run in June
Most famous jumps race: The Grand National at Aintree, run in April
Find out more:
2019 Weatherbys GSB Fact Book
British Racing Fact Sheet
The Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project (NAGBP) was launched in September 2016 as part of a shared vision between Godolphin, Newmarket’s largest employer, and the town’s only secondary school to support and enrich the lives of young people in the local community. Learn more about NAGBP in this case study.
The Beacon is delivered by the charity Racing to School, which in 2021 celebrates 20 years of working across racing to deliver free, curriculum-based education activities.
Park Palace Ponies is an inner-city starter riding school which opened in April 2017 in the Dingle area of Liverpool. Aiming to inspire a new generation of riders and to make riding more accessible to inner-city youngsters, the school offers introductory lessons for seven to 10-year-olds. Aintree and Park Palace Ponies have joined forces to offer a host of horseracing and Grand National activities for these children.
The annual Royal Ascot Schools Art Competition was launched in 2018, inviting local pupils to send in their colourful artwork with a chance of winning £1,000 for their school. Their winning entries are displayed in the Heath Tunnel, which runs from Ascot High Street to the Heath, until the following year’s competition. This year, Ascot received more than 700 entries from 12 schools, which gained over 2,500 online votes.
This collaboration is an investment from racing designed to support educators in helping young people make informed decisions about gaming and gambling, and understand the potential risks.
Every racecourse in Scotland, and 1,600 members of William Hill staff were trained as ‘Dementia Friends’ in 2019. In addition, Scottish Racing and William Hill raised awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and the work of Alzheimer Scotland, as well as funds to support the charity. Read more in this case study.
The Riding a Dream project follows the inspirational story of Khadijah Mellah, 18, from Peckham, who made global headlines and sporting history by becoming the first British Muslim woman to ride in and win a British horse race (the Magnolia Cup). Khadijah learned to ride at Brixton riding school/charity Ebony Horse Club.
Racing once again showed its support for the Armed Forces with every racecourse in Great Britain pledging to offer free tickets to Services personnel in 2019. British racecourses have donated nearly 80,000 tickets to the scheme
British racing’s national day of volunteering sees local communities working together to help others in May each year (except for 2020). Over 1,500 hours were donated by teams from 65 racing organisations, from racecourses to owner/breeders and stakeholders, to help homeless charities, foodbanks and other organisations.
An industry initiative to make racing free for under-18s when accompanied by a paying adult, providing a fun, affordable family day out.
Founded in 1990, Greatwood provides fulfilling futures for former racehorses and children and young people with special educational needs, through Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) educational programmes.
The British Horseracing Graduate Development Programme, which has been running for over 25 years, provides an invaluable source of talent to the sport and its supporting industries. Over 400 graduates have completed the programme and the majority have established careers in British horseracing.
A British Horseracing Authority-backed free, online learning tool designed to upskill racing’s workforce to support long-term careers.
The Diversity in Racing Steering Group launched Racing With Pride, the official LGBT+ network for British racing. The network is designed for British racing’s participants, workforce and fans who identify LGBT+, as well as allies of the LGBT+ community who want to demonstrate their support, regardless of their own identity.
The open days that take place across British racing serve to celebrate the horse and the sport, welcome visitors behind the scenes, showcase local businesses and raise funds for important charities. Open days take place each year in Epsom, Lambourn, Malton, Middleham and Newmarket.
