The horse racing industry
The racing industry supports significant levels of employment in many different sectors, some 85,000 jobs including:
• Over 10,000 employees, involved in the production and training of horses
• Over 400 full-time jockeys
• Over 550 licensed trainers of racehorses
• There are 59 racecourses throughout the UK with a variety of jobs roles
• Sometimes over 5,000 people can work at a racecourse at the most important race meetings.
What’ s it like working in horse racing?
‘ Not your typical job’ is perhaps an excellent way to describe all the jobs in horse racing, whether working directly with horses or in an office. The variety of jobs available really does make the racing industry one that has a job for everyone.
Key practical roles that involve looking after horses might be at racehorse training yards or breeding stud farms. Previous experience, while desirable, is not always necessary to start your training. Courses are run at the industry’ s training providers, National Horseracing College, The National Stud and the British Racing School. If you live in Scotland, you can train at the Scottish Racing Academy.
Further non office-based roles are also available at racecourses and would include jobs like ground staff who are responsible for turf maintenance, to hospitality and catering roles. In all of these practical roles, there is a great deal of scope for ongoing training and career progression.
Training and courses
The industry offers training courses from Apprenticeships to MBAs. As young people have to be in education until they are 18 years old, Apprenticeships are available in racehorse care either after GCSEs or A-Levels. This is the first step to becoming a Racing Groom or Stud Groom.