British Racing School

by Lindy Maurice Working together. Two simple words. But such a powerful concept. And, I believe, the power behind those words represents the future prosperity of our industry. If we don't work together to solve our issues (which are remarkably the same globally), there are strong reasons to believe that we won't have an industry to delight, stimulate and inspire for future generations. For those who don't know me, I founded Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) in 2019--with enormous help from Godolphin and many others in the racing and breeding world--as...

The Riding A Dream Academy, which was set up in 2021, has been integrated into the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket.  Initially supported by the Racing Foundation and with a mission to help young people from ethnic or disadvantaged communities to become involved in British racing, the academy will continue to support these groups through its riding-based programmes. These include taster days, residential weeks and a year-long Scholarship. Khadijah Mellah, co-founder of the Academy said, "We are very grateful to the British Racing School who have delivered all of our...

The new BASET Thoroughbred Endeavour Awards were announced by The British-Australia Society Education Trust (BASET), in partnership with Godolphin, the British Racing School (BRS), and Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) on Thursday. The awards support deserving young people from Britain and Australia embarking on careers in the equine and racing industries. The first recipient is Grace McBeath, who is from New South Wales, Australia. The aim of the programme is to offer participants the chance to further develop their career, gain new skills and experience international practices on a six-month exchange programme....

Her Majesty The Queen paid a rescheduled visit to the British Racing School in Newmarket on Thursday, June 1, to mark the school's 40th anniversary. The Queen was given a full tour of the school, met current students, staff and horses, and then unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her visit and celebrate the school's four decades, during which it has trained thousands of young people to be able to excel in Britain's second biggest spectator sport, horse racing. She also visited the Newmarket Pony Academy, a community project run...

The Riding A Dream Academy, launched on the back of an historic Magnolia Cup victory for young Muslim woman Khadijah Mellah, will hold a week-long residential course aimed at encouraging youngsters with little or no riding experience.  The academy supports people aged between 14 and 18 from diverse ethnic communities and underprivileged backgrounds. In 2021, a residential course for riders was held at the British Racing School in its pilot year, along with the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship. Funded by the Racing Foundation, the academy was established to help make horseracing more...

The inaugural class of nine students from the Riding A Dream Academy have graduated from its scholarship programme. Set up after Khadijah Mellah became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race, the Riding A Dream Academy offers the year-long Khadijah Mellah Scholarship which was established to help other young people aged 14-18 from diverse and underrepresented communities get into racing and to increase diversity and inclusion in the sport. The Academy is funded by the Racing Foundation, with additional support from the Jockey Club and Champion...

British Racing School Chief Executive Grant Harris will move on to a new role as the Chief Executive of the Alborada Trust on Jan. 1, 2023. A search for his successor will begin immediately. The Alborada Trust is Kirsten Rausing's private philanthropic charitable trust. Harris replaced Rory MacDonald when he retired in 2014. Prior to working with the BRS, Harris was a journalist for the NTF, BHB and Weatherbys. Harris said, "It's been my great privilege to run the British Racing School. I took over a thriving organisation and I...

There will be a special interactive display on The Hill at Epsom Downs in recognition of The Queen's passion for the Thoroughbred during the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Cazoo Oaks and Cazoo Derby Days, June 3-4. Billed the Racing Showcase, the display will highlight the care that is shown for racehorses throughout their lives, how the racing industry is engaging and inspiring young people to look at racing as a career, the provisions the industry makes for its people and how racing is looking to reach out to communities...

If you are a regular viewer of British racing then the chances are you will have seen plenty of interviews last season with jockey Marco Ghiani. He's the one who is always smiling, with the kind of impish face, dimples and all, that could soften even the sternest of stewards. In 2021, he had much to smile about.  With 101 winners under his belt, more than four times as many as his previous seasonal best, Ghiani was crowned champion apprentice at Ascot, receiving his trophy from Lester Piggott on QIPCO...

Oshane, a 16-year-old from South East London, became the first student from the Riding A Dream Academy to graduate from the British Racing School's Foundation course. He learned his craft at the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, and then joined the Foundation Course last December. Oshane was also one of the first students on the Academy's Khadijah Mellah Scholarship programme. The Riding A Dream Academy is funded by the Racing Foundation. "I loved the scholarship and really enjoyed the Foundation Course, but it was a lot of hard work," said...

Applications are now open for the second Residential Week of the Riding A Dream Academy. Aimed at supporting talented young riders aged 14-18 from under-represented communities, diverse backgrounds and those that ride at urban equestrian centres, the Academy is funded by the Racing Foundation. It was set up after Khadijah Mellah's win in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood when she became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horserace. The Residential Week is an introduction to British horse racing and will be held at the British Racing School...

The British Racing School has developed a support programme for horse racing businesses and charities interested in employing an individual under the government-funded Kickstart scheme. Kickstart provides funding to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months plus £1,500 per employee for setup costs. The BRS has launched a coordinated approach supported by the Racing Foundation and the Resume Foundation to help employers in racing...