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Explore British Racing’s Directory of Community and Education Activity…


The Directory maps nationwide activities from over 130 organisations that are harnessing racing’s assets to help people develop skills, increase physical activity and create a more diverse and inclusive sport.

Email lucy@racingtogether.co.uk to add your organisation or retrieve your login details.

Celebrating the racehorse


This year’s National Racehorse Week takes place 9-17th September 2023

Originating from an idea from trainer Richard Phillips in 2019, National Racehorse Week is designed for racing to open its doors  to the public for them to see and enjoy the magnificent horses and the care and love they receive every day.

Racing Together is a proud National Racehorse Week partner, developing community engagement as a key focus of the week-long celebration of the racehorse.

Last year’s Community Visits


10,000 places were made available with yards up and down the country opening their doors for the public to experience a day in the life of a racehorse. From training facilities and studs to aftercare and rehoming centres, 138 different events took place over eight days helping to demonstrate in ‘real life’ both the passion for the racehorse that underpins the sport.

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With core funding provided by the Racing Foundation, National Racehorse Week was able to put a significant focus this year on community outreach and engagement. A total of 26 dedicated events took place across the country, supported by Racing Together and Racing to School, with more than 800 people from schools, charities, urban equestrian centres and community groups getting involved to have their first experience behind the scenes of racing. And where people were not able to attend a yard visit, racehorses were taken to them.

Events included:
  • 50 young people from Birmingham’s Summerfield Stables, an equestrian charity supporting disadvantaged and disabled young people visited Dan Skelton
  • Jo Foster took racehorse Sigurd to a primary and secondary school alongside two care homes in West Yorkshire
  • Paul Nicholls OBE hosted a special visit for NHS and Emergency Service workers
  • Godolphin hosted Leicester’s Urban Equestrian Academy and took a retired racehorse to Newmarket Academy as part of the Newmarket Godolphin Beacon Project
  • James Fanshawe and Emma Lavelle hosted children with serious illnesses from the Barrie Well’s Trust Box4Kids initiative
  • BTRC and Greatwood aftercare centres took racehorse ambassadors to care homes, as part of the growing trend for thoroughbred equine therapy in the community


“We had a fantastic day with a huge number of people coming to the yard, many of whom were new to racing. It’s easy to forget that there are a lot of people out there who don’t really understand racing or equestrian sports or even horses in general. It’s up to us to show them what is great about it and why we are confident that we give racehorses a great life. That’s what National Racehorse Week allows us to do and why it’s so important.”

Trainer Richard Phillips, the originator of the idea for National Racehorse Week, welcomed over 300 people at his open day in Adlestrop, Gloucestershire.

Help us to build on last year’s success

If you’d like to coordinate a community or charity group visit as part of this year’s National Racehorse Week, you can get started using the guide below. Contact us at lucy@racingtogether.co.uk for further ideas, support and to discuss your plans.

Visit the National Racehorse Week website here.