Racing Staff Week returns for 2019

Representing a celebration of all of racing’s people, this year’s Racing Staff Week will see all 41 of the courses racing during the period 29th June – 6th July taking part.  Organised by Racing Welfare, the campaign seeks to champion the contribution of everyone working to make our sport happen every day of the year.  Racegoers will be shown a flagship film via racecourse big screens all across the country, with scores of events and reward initiatives planned nationally also.

Generating 3.4million hits of #RacingStaffWeek last year, Racing Welfare’s social media will track events throughout the week and is set to host a series detailing the lives of different people working in racing.  Each episode will be available to watch every evening from Monday 1^st – Friday 5^th July.

Industry stakeholders too are coming together in support of Racing Staff Week.  The Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) is generously sponsoring 30 yard barbecues again this year, supplying a special BBQ pack to each yard in a bid to help trainers to bring their owners and staff teams together. 

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the ROA, said, “The response from trainers has been superb this year with so many putting on fun, creative and inclusive events for staff and owners alike. We quickly hit our target of 25 yards looking for contributions and extended it so that 30 yards will be getting a contribution of £150 each. We know from the 2016 Racehorse Owners Survey that owners really enjoy and want to meet the dedicated individuals who care for their horses and the events we are contributing to are the perfect occasions for this to happen.”

Meanwhile, Careersinracing will be hiding 15 Golden Tickets up and down the country, the geographical locations of which will be released via their social media each day during the week.  

Head of Careers Marketing and Recruitment, Zoe Elliot, commented, “Careersinracing are delighted to be supporting Racing Staff Week with our popular Golden Tickets game.   Fifteen £100 vouchers will be spread throughout the country for Racing Staff to find, be they working at a racing yard, racecourse or in the breeding industry.  It is just a small token of thanks to celebrate the work that all our racing staff do in a huge number of diverse roles.

We are always delighted to work with Racing Welfare to showcase their support services, which are available to everyone in racing to access.  To have services in place for racing staff such as CATS (Careers Advice and Training Service), which can help people plan and develop their careers in racing, is an outstanding offering and we are always proud to tell parents and school careers advisors of the support on offer throughout someone’s time working in racing.”

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) are repeating their successful photography competition again this year, asking people working on studs to submit pictures in a bid to win cash prizes of £350,  with runners-up receiving £150. More information, T&Cs and details of how to enter can be found at www.thetba.co.uk.  

Claire Sheppard, TBA Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to continue our support for Racing Staff Week with the return of the photography competition for stud staff.  Last year we received some great photos from studs across the country and we hope that this year will see even more submissions to the competition.  We hope that the competition will increase awareness of the vital roles of the people within our industry in producing and preparing horses for racing and in the care of breeding stock.”

The Jockey Club is offering a £100 Best Turned Out prize across every race at each of their meetings throughout the course of the week.  All 15 racecourses sitting under The Jockey Club banner continue to provide free meals to racing staff at every one of their racedays throughout the year, an initiative which was launched to coincide with last year’s Racing Staff Week.  Furthermore, Arena Racing Company (ARC) will be rewarding the efforts of their racecourse teams with celebratory events throughout the week and prize draws for visiting racing staff to win chocolate hampers each day.  

Racing Welfare is hosting a number of social events across the country for those working in racing and Thoroughbred breeding and all are welcome to come along to enjoy the festivities.  Furthermore, the charity’s welfare team will be out in force during the week, visiting as many yards and racecourses as possible.  

Racing Staff Week reaches its crescendo on 5th July with Betfair Friday, when Doncaster and Newton Abbot will play host to two very special racedays.  Doncaster is set to run the 7f Betfair Clock Tower Cup for the 5th year in succession as part of their charity raceday, providing 12 stable staff riders with the opportunity compete on behalf of their respective yards. 

Newton Abbot will hold this year’s renewal of the Betfair Racing Staff Week Cup, contested over 1m 4f of glorious Devon turf and also boasting a full complement of riders, with many hailing from the jump yards of the South West.  All riders are raising money for Racing Welfare and have been nominated to ride by their respective trainers in recognition of their hard work.

Dawn Goodfellow, Chief Executive of Racing Welfare, said, “It is fantastic to see so many rewards being laid on by racing’s stakeholders and the racecourses again this year.  We are also really pleased to see the week providing a platform for the launch of long-term initiatives which benefit the lives of those working in racing all year round.   At its heart, Racing Staff Week presents an opportunity to showcase the people behind the success of British racing and we are looking forward to a fantastic week of celebrations.”