Racing Media Academy Announces Class of 2026 Following Record Interest

Now in its fifth year, the industry collaborative Racing Media Academy (RMA) is delighted to announce the Class of 2026, following a highly competitive selection process that saw more than 200 applications received from aspiring media professionals across the world.

After an initial shortlisting process, 96 candidates were invited to interviews at Ascot Racecourse in February, where they met with the RMA media partners and a panel of independent interviewers from across the racing and broadcast industries. Following the final selection process, 15 cadets have been chosen to join the 2026 programme. They will undertake specialist training, alongside industry placements with leading racing media organisations.

The RMA continues to play an important role in developing the next generation of racing storytellers, broadcasters, journalists and content creators, providing practical experience and mentoring across the sport’s media landscape. The organisers of the RMA are proud to announce that over 70% of the previous cadets are now employed in various roles across sporting media. Following the announcement earlier this year, one of this year’s cadets will be awarded the newly created ‘RMA Graduate of the Year’ award at the 2026 HWPA Derby awards.

Among the 2026 intake are Sienna Sinaid Anderson, Courtney Gray and Mikail Rafiq, who each bring unique backgrounds and perspectives to the programme.

Eighteen-year-old Sienna Sinaid Anderson, originally from Southeast London and now based in Newmarket, joins the Academy with a placement at Racing TV. Having begun
her career as a work rider for Charlie Fellowes Racing after completing the Riding a Dream Academy scholarship and training at the British Racing School, Sienna’s experiences around the sport – including finishing second in the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup – inspired her to explore racing from a media perspective. She hopes the RMA will help her develop the skills needed to pursue her ambition of becoming a racing presenter.

Courtney Gray, 30, from Warrington, will undertake her placement with Sky Sports Racing. Currently studying for a Sports Journalism MA at Liverpool John Moores University, Courtney combines a lifelong passion for horse racing with a determination to make the sport more accessible to younger audiences. Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), she is passionate about proving that background or health challenges should never be barriers to success.

Nineteen-year-old Mikail Rafiq from London brings a technical broadcasting perspective to the Academy. A Broadcast Engineering student at Ravensbourne University London, Mikail has a keen interest in broadcast infrastructure, camera operation and networks. During his placement with RaceTech, he is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in outside broadcast environments and learning from professionals working at the heart of racing’s live coverage.

The full cohort will undertake placements across a wide range of racing media organisations including ITV Racing, Racing TV, Racing Post, Sky Sports Racing, RaceTech, Ascot Racecourse, Arena Racing Company, Total Performance Data, PA Media, JSC Comms, Povora (JockeyCam), Nick Luck Daily, Equine Productions and the Jockey Club, giving cadets a broad view of the industry.

This year’s selection process also led to an additional opportunity for two candidates. Arena Racing Company were so impressed by the calibre of applicants they interviewed that they have taken two cadets onto the programme for placements with the organisation.

Josh Apiafi, founder of the Racing Media Academy, said:
“Each year the standard of applications continues to rise, and 2026 has been one of the most competitive selections we have ever seen. Interviewing 96 candidates at Ascot was a fantastic opportunity for our media partners to meet so many talented and passionate people who want to contribute to the future of racing media.

“The 15 cadets selected represent a brilliant mix of backgrounds, skills and perspectives, which is exactly what the RMA has aspired to do for the sport. It is about opening doors and creating pathways into racing media, and we’re excited to see how this group develops during their placements and beyond.”
‘I would like to thank our media partners, the Racing Foundation, Godolphin, Spotlight Sports Group and Joules Clothing for their continued support, we couldn’t achieve the levels of new employees to the sport without them’

The RMA Class of 2026 will begin the programme in April, working across the week with industry giants such as Lydia Hislop, Lee Motterhead, Mike Cattermole, Alex Hammond, Emmet Kennedy and Frankie Foster while gaining practical experience with some of the sport’s leading media organisations including RaceTech and JockeyCam.

To learn more about the Racing Media Academy click here.