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Racing is Everyone’s Sport Campaign to Support LGBT+ People in Racing

Racing is Everyone's Sport is partnering again with Stonewall's Rainbow Laces for a second year to show support for the LGBT+ community in racing. Started by Great British Racing in 2020 with support from the sport's Racing with Pride network, Racing is Everyone's Sport aims to encourage and welcome LGBT+ participation in the sport of horseracing, bringing the racing community together to champion inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. The Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign, Lace Up and Speak Up, will last from Nov. 25-Dec. 12. Jockeys and friends Jack Duern and Josephine Gordon discuss Jack's experience of coming out in 2013 and the importance of allyship for the LGBT+ community in this year's campaign.

Jockey Jack Duern (pronouns: he/him) said, “Racing has definitely come a long way since I came out in 2013. I'm proud to be the first openly gay jockey in Europe, and also proud of the racing community for accepting me for who I am and for welcoming me back into the sport. I'm determined to use my platform, and as an ambassador for Racing With Pride, to show other LGBT+ people, both in and out of racing, that they are not alone and that racing is everyone's sport.

“I hope that by talking to Josie about my experiences of coming out, as well as the importance of having friends and colleagues to support and speak up on your behalf, it will spark a conversation in the racing community that it is all of our responsibly to stand up for our friends and colleagues to show that discrimination has no place in racing.”

Additionally, on Saturday Dec. 4, Racing is Everyone's Sport will encourage and welcome LGBT+ participation in the sport through a series of activities at racecourses across the UK that day–Sandown Park, Aintree, Chepstow, Wolverhampton and Wetherby. For more details, please visit Great British Racing's website.

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One-Handed Teenager Chasing Horse Racing Dream In Britain

A young one-handed rider is breaking down boundaries, having successfully graduated from the British Racing School.

Harry Enright, 17, who rides with a prosthetic arm linked to the reins through a magnetic device, recently completed the 18 week foundation course that prepares young riders for a career in horse racing and is now working at trainer Lawney Hill's racing stables in Oxfordshire as a work rider.

Harry was born with one hand and has always had a love of horses and riding. Having first sat on a donkey at eight months old on holiday in Ireland, his parents turned to the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket when he decided he wanted to pursue a career in racing.

Harry said, “When I was younger I was quite into football and it got to the point where I thought I could either continue playing that, work in an office or try and make something of myself.

“I've always loved horses and decided I wanted to take that further and get into racing so I came to the British Racing School. There is Guy Disney who rides with a lower limb prosthetic but we weren't aware of anyone else who rode with a prosthetic arm.

“I started out at the British Racing School doing a nine-week course and then came back for the 18 week course with loads of riding and mucking out. Together with the BRS and Steve Cox and the team at Dorset Orthopaedic we have created a prosthetic which allows me to safely ride racehorses.

“The prosthetic is made of silicon which slides onto my arm and there is a magnet at the end which attaches to the reins. A power circuit keeps it in place and if I fall off the circuit is broken, releasing the magnet so that I don't get caught up in the reins dragged along.”

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director at the BRS who has been instrumental in developing the bespoke prosthetic said, “We've been working with Harry to create a prosthetic which has allowed him to ride racehorses so that not only has he been safe but all the other horses and riders with him have been safe as well.

“The key was to find a solution that didn't require the horses to adapt to the way Harry was riding. Thanks to Harry's determination and natural ability this has been achieved. It has been great to see him successfully complete the course and go on to full time employment.”

Michelle, Harry's mother said, “We are extremely proud of Harry. Behind all of this for him to inspire others like him to never give up on your dreams to really put yourself out there and keep trying. We're in the 21st century and he wants to show that anything is possible. We are so proud of him with his determination to fight for the dream that he wants.”

Having graduated, Harry is now working at Lawney Hill's racehorse yard in Oxfordshire.

He said, “Everyone has their bigger goal of where they want to be. The biggest goal for me is probably trying to be a jockey. For now, I'm just taking it step by step. My next goal was to get into the workplace and I've achieved that and now it's just continuing to move forwards towards my dreams.”

Lawney Hill said: “Harry is hard-working, cheeky and dedicated and he's determined not to let anything get in his way. We are so impressed with his riding ability and his manner with the horses and he has been a brilliant addition to our team since he has joined us.”

The team are continuing to develop and improve the prosthetic. If people would like to contribute to this process, please contact Andrew Braithwaite at the British Racing School.

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British Racing Bodies Commit to Improving Diversity and Inclusion

Organisations across British racing have united to improve diversity and inclusion across the sport under a unified “Industry Commitment”. The Industry Commitment, which is part of British racing's COVID-19 Recovery Plan for British racing', aims to formalise the sport's approach to diversity and inclusion and builds on the extensive existing activity already taking place, including community engagement, education activity and charitable work. This is highlighted through the Racing Together platform which has already showcased over 80 initiatives.

Organisations that have signed on to the Industry Commitment are: the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association (RCA), Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), National Trainers Federation (NTF), Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) and Great British Racing (GBR). There are five areas that underpin the Industry Commitment and each organisations will former their individual Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans:

Leadership and Accountability–industry leaders ensuring and taking accountability for the creation of a more diverse and inclusive sport
Good Governance–ensuring a better understanding of the racing landscape to influence policy, practice and procedures
Education and Awareness Raising–giving everyone across racing access to learning about diversity and inclusion and why they're important to the sport
Celebrating Racing's Diversity–showcasing the diversity that exists across the racing industry in order to create an inclusive sport where difference is embraced, and everyone is valued
Engaging New Audiences–promoting racing as a sport for all and encouraging diverse communities to take part

Annamarie Phelps, Chair of British Horseracing Authority, said: “This is an important step forward for the sport. We have so much to celebrate in British racing, including men and women being able to compete on a level playing field. Equally, it is the responsibility of all of us in the sport to ensure we can showcase British racing as a modern sport which is truly diverse, inclusive and open to all. Being proactive about improving diversity is essential to the long-term viability of the sport, but first and foremost it is absolutely the right thing to do.”

For more information on the Industry Commitment, please visit www.media.britishhorseracing.com.

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Striding For More Launched on International Women’s Day

The initiative 'Striding For More' was launched by Women In Racing on International Women's Day, Mar. 8. Its aim is to celebrate the vast range of roles occupied by women in the sport through a series of videos that feature 10 women from across the sport after working with Great British Racing and other industry groups. Some of the featured women include jockey Hollie Doyle, Aintree clerk of the course Sulekha Varma, broadcaster Alex Hammond, BHA raceday starter Sophia Upton, and history-making Khadijah Mellah.

“You can never have too many role models,” Women In Racing Chair Tallulah Lewis told Sky Sports Racing. “It's something we try to focus on, shedding a light on the fact that women are making up more than half of our industry–and doing every role out there.

“We all know how well role models work–and if you see someone in a position, and you relate to them, then you are more likely to push yourself to succeed.”

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