Football Business & Finance students step into the world of Racing

A group of first, second and third year students from the University Campus of Football Business recently attended Windsor Racecourse for an Explore Racing day – organised through Careers in Racing, the day aimed to show the students how the sport of horseracing has many various career paths.

The day began with an induction presentation from Zoe Elliot – Head of Careers Marketing and Recruitment at the BHA – which laid out all the many facets of the sport, the role the BHA plays and an explanation of the various career paths available. This was pertinent for the students as part of their studies comprises of sports stadium and event management.

Paul Swain of the RCA gave a talk on what they do and the power of the brand. Paul’s passionate presentation also added another dimension, as he was part of the BHA Graduate Programme in 2012. Paul spoke of the opportunities the programme has afforded him and encouraged the group to consider this in the future.

Michelle Douglas – Careers Marketing and Recruitment Advisor at the BHA – then gave the students a behind the scenes tour of Windsor Racecourse. This included entering the weighing room and speaking with the Clerk of the Scales who gave an in depth run through of what a jockey will go through before and after a race.

A section of the group was then able to be heavily involved in Windsor’s final meeting of the season, students were able to enter the pre-parade ring before the first and decide the best turned out. The special access did not end there with the students then presenting the winning owners with their award in the Winners Enclosure.

In the afternoon the group were allowed to relax and experience the thrills and excitement of racing for many of which was the first time.

Lucy – a second year student said of the day: “I am really pleased I attended today, I had never stepped onto a racecourse before, my interest lies in music acts at sporting venues and I never even knew that racecourses had stepped into this field. It is definitely something I will consider as a future career path.”