Racing Is Everyone’s Sport 2021: ‘I Just Hope That Everyone Coming Into Racing Now Can Feel Comfortable’

Launched by Great British Racing last year and 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.

As part of this year's Racing Is Everyone's Sport campaign, Great British Racing brought together current jockeys and friends, Jack Duern and Josephine Gordon, to discuss Jack's experience of coming out in 2013 and the importance of allyship for the LGBT+ community.

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.”

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

Rainbow saddle cloths, kindly organized by sponsors the Kindred group (through its Unibet brand), Betfair and Betway, will be worn for a number of races across the day, including the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown, the Unibet Becher Chase at Aintree and The Betway Handicap stakes at Wolverhampton.

Jockeys at the four meetings will once again be encouraged to wear rainbow armbands and rainbow pin badges will be given out freely to racecourse staff and spectators to show their support and spark conversation.

Erin Williams, Sport Engagement Manager at Stonewall (they/them and she/her) said: “We're delighted that Great British Racing is continuing their support for Rainbow Laces this year, joining millions of people around the world who are committed to promoting LGBT+ inclusion in sport and fitness.

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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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‘Racing is Everyone’s Sport’ Initiative Announced by GBR

‘Racing is Everyone’s Sport’ campaign was announced by Great British Racing on Monday. The goal of the initiative is to encourage and welcome LGBT+ participation in racing and bring the racing community together to champion lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Former jockey Victoria Smith and trainer Mick Appleby are involved with the initiative and have shared their personal experiences.

“This year has been challenging for all [during the coronavirus pandemic]–however research demonstrates that minority groups have been disproportionately affected during the crisis,” said Diversity in Racing Steering Group David Letts. “As such, racing should be proud of the significant progress it has made to promote LGBT+ inclusion.

“The sport’s recently launched LGBT+ network, Racing With Pride, has been a great example of this work which has already proved most valuable to the industry’s LGBT+ community and allies. Everyone in our sport should feel able to be their true selves without fear of discrimination, and I believe we are moving in the right direction to achieve this.”

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