Woodbine Teams Up With You Can Play Project

Woodbine Entertainment is partnering with the You Can Play Project (YCP) to increase the level of inclusion for everyone who participates in the sport of horse racing. This includes 2SLGBTQ+ athletes, administrators, horse people, and fans. Woodbine is the first horse racing organization in all of North America to partner with the YCP.

“This partnership is a reflection of our determination and commitment to do more to break down barriers and make our sport more inclusive,” said Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson. “Horse racing has a rich history throughout the world, but we see an opportunity to be more inclusive, and to be allies to the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”

YCP works to ensure the safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches and fans. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, YCP provides support, education and outreach to ensure the 2SLGBTQ+ community is safe and welcomed in sport, and athletes and participants are judged on their skill, talent and contribution and not their sexuality or gender identity.

The partnership kicks off this June during Pride month with various initiatives planned over the next year including inclusivity training for Woodbine Entertainment staff, jockeys, drivers, trainers, and other horse racing participants. Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park will also host You Can Play themed race days in 2023 to raise awareness and 50/50 fundraising draws to support the You Can Play Project.

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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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