The academy supports people aged between 14 and 18 from diverse ethnic communities and underprivileged backgrounds. In 2021, a residential course for riders was held at the British Racing School in its pilot year, along with the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship. Funded by the Racing Foundation,  the academy was established to help make horseracing more accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds.

Khadijah Mellah, who became the first British Muslim woman to ride a winner  when landing the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in 2019, said, “After the success of our pilot year we wanted to make sure that we were providing opportunities that would allow as wide a group of young people as possible to spend time learning how to look after racehorses and finding out more about horseracing. This is an amazing opportunity for young people who love animals and are wanting to try their hand at something new, whilst also finding out more about the opportunities for them within the sport.”

Naomi Lawson, director and co-founder of the academy added, “When we first launched the Academy we had lots of applications from young people who had been inspired by Khadijah and wanted to get involved but didn't have the experience to join one of our riding-based courses. Thanks to the support of the Racing Foundation we are now able to offer these young people a specially tailored course which will introduce them to the world of horseracing, including how to care for our racehorses and all the different facets that make up the sport.”

The fully funded residential week at Newmarket's British Racing School runs from Oct. 24 to 28. It will include visits to racing yards, studs and racecourses. Applications close on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Further information about the course can be found here.

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The students learned to ride racehorses under the expert tuition of the instructors at the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket where the Academy and its programmes are run. The course began with a residential week at the BRS in August 2021 and the students have returned for one weekend each month since then to continue their tuition.

Mellah said, “I am so incredibly proud and humbled by everything that the students have achieved this year. To see them arrive in August last year having only ever sat on riding school ponies, to now be riding racehorses on the gallops here is just mind blowing. As a group and individually I am so impressed by the talent, hard work and commitment they have put in and I can't wait to see where their careers in racing take them next. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Racing Foundation and the incredible instructors at the British Racing School–I am so grateful to everyone who has made the Academy possible.”

The Academy was set up by Naomi Lawson and ITV Racing's Oli Bell as a legacy to the achievements of Khadijah Mellah who became the first British Muslim woman to win a horse race in the UK when landing the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in 2019.

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The Academy, which is funded by the Racing Foundation, was set up following Khadijah Mellah's win in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood when she became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horserace. It aims to help broaden diversity and inclusion in racing by providing opportunities for other young people. The Residential Week acts as a fun introduction to British horse racing and will once again be held at the British Racing School (BRS) from Monday, May 30 to Friday, June 3. The closing date for applications, via the website www.ridingadreamacademy.com/the-residential-week, is Sunday, Feb. 13.

So far the Academy has supported 18 young riders from underrepresented groups and urban equestrian centers through its first Residential Week in 2021, and the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship which runs for a year and currently has eight students. To date, 72% of the Academy's cohort have come from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

ITV presenter Oli Bell, who co-founded the Academy alongside Great British Racing's Naomi Lawson said, “At the Academy we are passionate about providing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, who have learnt to ride at an urban equestrian centre or city farm so that we can help to make racing more diverse and inclusive. We are thrilled to have supported so many talented riders so far and are looking forward to welcoming our next Residential Week group later this year. We'd love to uncover more stars of the future but more than that, this is about giving opportunities to people who might not otherwise have had it and showing what a wonderful sport racing is.”

Feedback from students and parents has been incredibly positive with one student rating the week, “100/10. Having an experience like this has really enforced what I want to do. I LOVED it.” A parent also said, “I can't praise the week highly enough – it's a ground-breaking opportunity that has educated me more in a week than all the years I have been trying to find out what potential there may be for my child in the horsey world.”

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director at British Racing School said, “Everyone involved at the British Racing School in the Academy has thoroughly enjoyed hosting the students on the Residential and the Scholarship and it is simply wonderful to see young people being given the opportunity to get involved in racing and experience the thrill of riding thoroughbreds – both groups have been an inspiration. There are obviously a range of initiatives within racing aimed at widening access and giving opportunity to those from underrepresented backgrounds but I would venture few will have as much impact as this.”

Whilst on the Residential Week students benefit from the brilliant coaching of the British Racing School instructors and learn to ride racehorses for the very first time. They learn how to hold the jockey position and bridge their hands, whilst also learning how to look after our horses. Students also have the chance to find out more about the sport by going to the races, visiting studs and other racing establishments and going up onto Newmarket's famous gallops.

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ITV presenter Oli Bell, who co-founded the Academy alongside Great British Racing's Naomi Lawson said, “At the Academy we are passionate about providing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, who have learnt to ride at an urban equestrian centre or city farm so that we can help to make racing more diverse and inclusive. We'd love to uncover more stars of the future but more than that, this is about giving opportunities to people who might not otherwise have had it and showing what a wonderful sport racing is.”

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Kindly funded by the Racing Foundation, the Academy has been independently developed by ITV Racing's Oli Bell and Great British Racing's Head of PR, Naomi Lawson. In its pilot year it will run two programs for those aged 14-18 – The Khadijah Mellah Scholarship and a residential week, both delivered by the British Racing School in Newmarket.

The Jockey Club, which stages many of British Racing's biggest events including The Festival at Cheltenham, the Randox Grand National at Aintree and The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs will also kindly fund one Scholarship place for a rider from St James City Farm in Gloucester, a club that they have supported now over a number of years.

Khadijah Mellah, who made history when winning the Magnolia Cup in 2019 and who learned to ride at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton said: “Racing changed my life forever and I hope that by getting involved in the Riding A Dream Academy it will change other young people's lives too. If you come from my background it can be difficult to imagine yourself in racing so I hope the Academy will give other young people the confidence that racing is a sport that you can get involved in, where you will be supported and where you can achieve your dreams and anything you set your mind to.”

Oli Bell, ITV Racing presenter who has helped to develop the Academy said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Racing Foundation for funding The Riding A Dream Academy which will enable lots of young people who wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the thrill of horse racing. It will hopefully provide a legacy to Khadijah's achievements when she showed that the impossible can be possible and it is something that I am hugely proud to be a part of. I look forward to meeting the racing stars of the future who will be a part of this terrific new initiative.”

Susannah Gill, Trustee of the Racing Foundation and Chair of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group, said: “British racing is a wonderful sport and all of us involved in it must work together to ensure future generations feel they can have the opportunity to be part of it. The Riding a Dream Academy is a fantastic example of the positive action needed to ensure British racing is a diverse and inclusive sport in which everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential and where people from all communities feel welcome. The Racing Foundation is very pleased to offer its support from the outset and huge credit must go to Oli Bell, Naomi Lawson, the British Racing School and everyone involved in making the Riding a Dream Academy a reality.”

Naomi Howgate, General Manager of Ebony Horse Club in Brixton where Khadijah learned to ride welcomed the initiative saying: “It's brilliant that The Riding A Dream Academy has been developed as part of Khadijah's legacy. Having role models that you relate to is so important and it is great that the young people at Ebony and other urban equestrian centres who have been inspired by Khadijah's achievements will also have the opportunity to explore the world of horse racing through the Academy's two programmes.”

The Khadijah Mellah Scholarship is a year-long program for talented riders aged 14-18 from underrepresented communities which, in its first year, will welcome eight riders, with applications now open via www.ridingadreamacademy.com (closing date June 14). The Scholarship will see the students spend a week at the British Racing School to hone their riding skills, followed by 11 monthly weekend sessions at the school where they will be paired with a mentor, have the chance to gain work experience at a top racehorse trainer's yard, participate in further pony races and gain a 1st4Sport Level 1 qualification in the horseracing industry. Its sister program, the Residential Week, will act as an introduction to the racing industry for less experienced riders and is likewise aimed at those from underrepresented groups and communities.

Both programs will be delivered by the British Racing School in Newmarket.

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director who has been instrumental in the Academy's development, said: “Creating the Riding A Dream Academy is a fantastic idea and links in really well with other opportunities in the sport. The British Racing School is delighted to be involved in the Academy which will help to open up racing. It will provide a really important missing link to help young people from diverse backgrounds get more involved and mean that we are tapping into the full spectrum of talent out there.”

Khadijah's success in the Magnolia Cup came aboard Haverland, trained by Charlie Fellowes who will be one of the trainers to provide work experience to those on the Scholarship program.

He said: “Lots of trainers will be more than open to supporting this brilliant initiative. Khadijah's story and success was so powerful and creating a lasting legacy that helps other young people from underrepresented backgrounds get into racing is something that we all see the value in. My team and I can't wait to get involved.”

You can find out more about The Riding A Dream Academy at www.ridingadreamacademy.com / info@ridingadreamacademy.com.

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Viewers in Britain will have the chance to relive the entire story when the documentary, Riding A Dream is shown again at 12.50pm on ITV this Saturday.

The film was last week announced as the Best British Short Film at the prestigious British Documentary Film Festival.

“Winning the Magnolia Cup at the Qatar Goodwood Festival was a whirlwind experience and something that has changed my life immensely,” said Mellah. “The fact that the documentary of my story, Riding A Dream, has gone on to win Best British Short Film is totally surreal.”

She told Great British Racing she is determined to use her experience to inspire other young people.

She said, “At the time, I was looking up to role models to help inspire me and get me through the grueling training. So it was incredible to then receive messages from young women and girls in particular, saying that I had inspired them to do something out of their comfort zone.”

“It is so important to me to encourage people to be determined and pursue a sport to a higher level despite what other people may think. My hope is that my experiences will encourage more people to get involved in racing.”

Mellah's victory made history and changed the perceptions of young women in her community.

“I know for sure that I have broken some perceptions of a young Muslim woman and it is something that I am proud of and will continue to do,” said Mellah. “Me being Muslim isn't just it. It is important that people realise that being a certain religion or from a certain background doesn't determine your interests and the person you are, and it certainly doesn't determine how good you are.

“For me it is so important to be able to spread the message that you can be successful despite your background.”

She hopes that her story and positive experience within the sport will see a shift in horse racing.

“When I was younger, I didn't think that getting into racing would be an option for me or someone of my background,” Mellah said. “There was no one that looked like me. I hope now that I have joined the racing industry and I have been a success story that young people like me will also see there is an opportunity for them to join that racing community.”

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