Scottish Racing launches new Academy

Scottish Racing, the body which promotes the sport of horseracing in Scotland, has announced the creation of a new sister organisation, the charity Scottish Racing Academy, designed to recruit students into the industry. Continuing Professional Development opportunities for current racing staff will also be offered.

The Scottish Racing Academy has collaborated with schools and colleges across Scotland and is now seeking to recruit anyone who wishes to gain essential employability and academic qualifications, develop riding skills and gain knowledge of the vast range of careers within the racing industry. The Academy will place equal emphasis on supporting those who already work in horseracing to upskill their careers.

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The qualifications are being delivered as part of the National Curriculum for Excellence at all 14 schools in the Scottish Borders and encourage young people to complete a racing-specific horse care qualification while studying in their senior phase at school. Students can then continue their learning journey by undertaking the National Certificate in Racehorse Care at either Borders College or Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Thanks to support from grant-giver, the Racing Foundation and the wider racing industry, the Scottish Racing Academy will provide training for new recruits into horseracing and opportunities for current stable staff to gain recognition for their current skills or gain additional skills alongside their work.

Delly Innes, Manager of Scottish Racing said: “ Scotland is well-renowned for having some of the most hard-working and dedicated staff in horseracing, and we believe our collaboration with schools and colleges will make it easier for many more people to train for a wide range of career opportunities available in our sport.”

Eleanor Boden, Manager of the new Scottish Racing Academy added: “All of the qualifications and training opportunities across our courses are delivered by highly skilled and experienced racing professionals who have a passion for transferring their knowledge to the next generation of racing staff, as well as progressing current stable staff employees. We are confident of the positive impact this will have on the sport in Scotland as a whole, and will give individuals the fundamental skills required to enter and progress their career within the wider racing community. We are very much looking forward to welcoming all our new recruits at the start of the academic year.”

An Open Day for potential students wanting to know more about the courses on offer from the Scottish Racing Academy is being held at Musselburgh Racecourse on Friday 20th March. If you would like to attend the Open Day, please email: info@scottishracingacademy.scot.

A representative of the Borders College said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for aspiring racing staff to develop their skills for a successful career in horseracing, in a safe and professional environment. We are thrilled to be working with the Scottish Racing Academy to support students to accelerate their individual development and give them the best education to achieve their individual goals.”

The Scottish Racing Academy’s Board of Trustees has been recruited from varying areas of the racing industry and include the following:

• Dena Arstall, Founder of Simply Racing and Professional Coach
• Jonathan Garratt, Managing Director of Kelso Racecourse
• Morag Gray, Trustee of Racing Welfare; Ambassador of Racing to School
• Delly Innes, Manager of Scottish Racing and Chair of the Scottish Racing Academy
• Ken McGarrity, Racehorse Owners’ Association Committee Member for Scotland
• Lucinda Russell, Scotland’s leading National Hunt Racehorse Trainer

For further information on the Scottish Racing Academy, please see www.scottishracingacademy.scot or contact Eleanor Boden on 07908 716564