Racing is everyone鈥檚 sport: Our vision is for racing to be inclusive, safe, and welcoming,听because听it鈥檚听better when听we鈥檙e听all听in the听race.听
British racing is a diverse and wide鈥�reaching听industry, with a workforce, participant base and audience drawn from across the UK and beyond.听But diversity alone does not automatically create inclusion, opportunity or fairness and the sport continues to face significant challenges linked to representation, culture, and belonging.听
听found that many do not always experience racing as inclusive or welcoming.听听
While听racing staff听represent听68 nationalities, including 6% Indian and 4% Irish employees,听people from underrepresented backgrounds continue to report barriers to progression, unequal听experiences听and a lack of visible representation in more senior roles across the industry.听
These challenges are not separate from the wider issues British racing faces around workforce shortages,听retention听and long-term sustainability.听
According to听workforce survey data,听19% of employers in British horseracing report skills gaps, and the industry consistently has over 500 unfilled roles, particularly in horse-facing positions such as stable staff and work听riders.听
Additionally, staff retention rates听have dropped from 86% in 2013 to 80% in 2023, pointing to a cultural issue driving away talent.听Creating environments where people feel respected, supported, and able to succeed is essential if racing is to attract and听retain听the diverse talent it needs for the future.听
The same patterns can be seen in gender representation across the sport.听听Women make up听70% of racing school students and听around听50% of racing staff, yet听representation significantly declines in senior and high-profile听areas.听听
Female jockeys听comprise听25% of all jockeys, but only 14% of听professionals.听 Despite evidence showing they perform on par with their male counterparts, they receive just 9% of rides and only 3% of rides in top-tier races.听听This underrepresentation at higher levels highlights the structural and cultural barriers that still exist within the sport.听
Diversity and inclusion work is critical to the future health,听sustainability听and relevance of British racing. Creating a sport where everyone feels included, safe,听welcome听and able to progress will strengthen racing鈥檚 workforce, broaden its appeal,听and help ensure the sport reflects the society it serves.听
Because听it鈥檚听better when听we鈥檙e听all听in听the听race.听
Our Approach to Diversity & Inclusion in British Racing听
Building a diverse and inclusive culture听is a shared responsibility across British racing. Organisations across the sport play a critical role in creating inclusive environments within their own contexts, recognising the different structures, challenges and opportunities that exist across the industry.听
萌妹社区 (BHA) supports this work by setting strategic direction, coordinating activity, and working with industry partners to enable progress. This includes听co-designing听shared frameworks听like the听Rider Development Pathway听to make sure听they鈥檙e听inclusive,听facilitating听collaboration, and providing practical support to organisations at听different stages听of their journey听through the Industry Commitment programme.听
Industry听EDI听Strategy听
Racing鈥檚听cross-industry鈥檚听EDI听Strategy sets out a听three-year听framework for advancing inclusion across British racing. It reflects engagement with organisations across the sport, alongside analysis of available data and research.听
The strategy provides a听clear听direction of travel,听with听actions to strengthen leadership, improve fairness, widen听opportunity听and engage new audiences.听This work is informed by ongoing research and insight, including targeted analysis of diversity within the sport.听听
Read听about听the Industry听EDI Strategy听
How we are supporting progress听
A number of听initiatives and programmes are in place to support the delivery听of the Industry EDI Strategy.听Some of the larger programmes are as follows:听
Industry Commitment听Programme听
The Industry Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Programme brings together organisations across racing around a听shared set of principles and areas of focus. Each signatory organisation听identifies听its own priorities and actions, supported by practical guidance and opportunities for听collaboration and听shared learning.听
Find out more about the Industry Commitment
Inclusive Learning Campaign听
The Inclusive Learning Campaign aims strengthen diversity and inclusion education across British racing, with a focus on听practical, tangible actions relevant to each person鈥檚 specific role.听
This includes reviewing existing education pathways across the industry to better understand what learning is needed, where it is most effective, and who it should support.听听
Inclusive Governance Programme听
A decision made without diverse perspectives is a decision made without all the information.听听That鈥檚听why we are working with boards and senior leadership teams across the industry to support more inclusive decision鈥�making by increasing the diversity of perspectives considered.听
This includes听exploring听changes to听recruitment, succession planning,听and听new approaches听to stakeholder involvement.听The aim is to support boards听to听make听decisions that better reflect the diversity of the sport and the communities听they听serve.听听
Building a clearer picture of progress听
Over time, work is underway to improve how diversity and inclusion activity and progress is understood across British racing. This includes developing approaches to data collection, insight sharing, and reporting.听
As this work evolves, further information and tools will be made available to support organisations and provide a clearer collective picture of progress across the industry.听听
Want to get involved?听
Creating a more inclusive sport is not something any one organisation can do alone. Progress across British racing depends on people being willing to listen, share ideas, challenge听barriers听and help shape positive change.听
Whether you:
鈥撎齱ant support with inclusive practices within your organisation,听
鈥撎齢ave an idea that could help make racing more welcoming and representative,听
鈥撎齛re interested in collaborating on diversity and inclusion work,听
鈥撎齩r simply want to learn more about how you can play a part,听or join an affinity group听
We听want to hear from you.听
Inclusion in racing is a collective effort, and meaningful change happens when more people choose to get involved. Email us at听[email protected]听to get in touch.听
Reporting discriminatory language or behaviour
If you have experienced discriminatory language or behaviour, or have witnessed it, you can share it anonymously through RaceWISE, the BHA鈥檚 reporting service, via听,听,听email听or by calling 08000 24 24 50.听
