Racing Foundation

Racing Together announced on Monday that its third annual Industry Day will be held at Nottingham Racecourse on Thursday, February 6, supported by the HBLB, the Racecourse Association and the Racing Foundation. Keynote speaker Baroness Dido Harding, senior Steward at the Jockey Club, will join contributors from the world of racing and beyond to discuss the value of racing and the impact of community engagement. The day includes welcome refreshments and lunch, while attendees will also have the opportunity to meet a very special retired racehorse as part of the...

Over 300 delegates among the racing industry attended the Racing Foundation Conference at Ascot Racecourse on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The main themes of the conference were to build understanding and prompt collaboration around racing's social licence challenges. Bob Langert, the former vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at McDonald's, TedTalk speaker and author, delivered the keynote address. Langert said, "During my time at McDonald's, we faced many detractors in the form of activist campaigns, books and movies and media coverage on multiple issues...One central reason for McDonald's not...

The Racing Together Industry Day will be held at Chester Racecourse on Feb. 8, the organisation announced on Wednesday. The 2024 edition will take place at Chester Racecourse and will consist of a variety of speakers from both within and outside the racing industry. Conor McGinn, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock will open the day and will be joined by speakers from the sports of rugby and cricket. This year the event will be kindly supported by Gallagher's Insurance, who will be exploring the...

A survey for trainers and stable staff, commissioned by the Industry People Board, has been launched by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). The aim is to improve recruitment, skills, and retention of staff in the British racing industry. The appropriate racing industry staff will shortly be contacted by Public Perspectives to give their views on the survey, which is funded by the Racing Foundation, and delivered in partnership with the BHA, the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS). The survey will also provide feedback...

The third annual National Racehorse Week, from Sept. 9-17 in the UK, has been deemed a success after a record number of open days and community events, Great British Racing (GBR), who funds the initiative alongside the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), announced on Tuesday. Over 15,000 free places were made available across the seven days across the country for the public to come and experience a day in the life of a racehorse. From training facilities and studs, to aftercare and rehoming centres, 209 different events...

Racing Foundation Chief Executive Rob Hezel will step down from his role with the organisation to pursue a portfolio career, he announced to the RF Board on Wednesday. Hezel, who has held his position for eight years, will remain in place until a successor is found. He was recently appointed to a non-executive role on the Industry People Board. During Hezel's tenure, over £35 million in funding has been granted by the RF to areas of racing in people training and development, equine welfare, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. Julia...

Rishi Persad has been appointed to the Racing Foundation Board of Trustees. A racing broadcaster and member of the ITV Racing and Racing TVG teams, Persad joins the recently appointed Jim Boyle, Linda Bowles, Susannah Gill, Louise Kemble, Alice Page and Algy Smith-Maxwell on the Racing Foundation's Board of Trustees, which is chaired by Julia Budd. Budd said, "I'm so pleased Rishi will be joining us on the Foundation's Board of Trustees. With a broadcasting career spanning over two decades, his experience both within racing and of the wider sporting...

The sixth annual Horseracing Industry Conference will be returning to York Racecourse on Thursday, June 1, 2023, the Racing Foundation and University of Liverpool Management School announced on Tuesday. 'Modernising racing: How far and how fast?' is the focus of the conference, which will bring together experts from both within and outside of the racing industry. Refreshments will be served, as well as a two-course lunch, followed by a champagne reception. Tickets are £55 and can be purchased on the Racing Foundation's website. Rob Hezel, Chief Executive at the Racing...

Trainer and veterinarian Jim Boyle has been appointed to the Racing Foundation's Board of Trustees. He replaces now-retired trainer Mark Johnston. A graduate of Bristol University in 1996, he later specialised in equine veterinary medicine, and has served as President of the National Trainers' Federation (NTF) between 2014 and 2016. Boyle joins Algy Smith-Maxwell, Alice Page, Linda Bowles, Louise Kemble and Susannah Gill on the Foundation's seven-strong Board of Trustees, which is chaired by Julia Budd. Budd said, "We are delighted to welcome someone of Jim's calibre to the Racing...

The third Economic Impact Study of the British Thoroughbred breeding industry was published on Wednesday. In the report, key opportunities and challenges for the sector were outlined and provide a blueprint for future progress. Building on reports published in 2014 and 2018, the study was commissioned by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and conducted by PwC. Both the Racing Foundation and Horseracing Betting Levy Board (HBLB) funded the project. British breeding was found to have an impact of over £375m of gross value added to the rural economy, as well...

Edited Press Release Neil Hayward has been appointed as the first chair of racing's Industry People Board, leading a new function within the sport with the goal of driving and ensuring delivery in efforts to recruit, train and retain British racing's workforce and promoting welfare, equality, diversity and inclusion. The creation of the Industry People Board follows a comprehensive process overseen by a steering group comprising the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and the Racing Foundation (RF). Hayward brings to the role of Chair more than...

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...