Course Design
Careers information
Racecourses are not built every day, so there are not that many jobs that actually involve designing racecourses. However, there are lots of jobs at the racecourse that will involve elements of what you have learnt in this section.
The role of the racecourse manager is vital to the racecourse, and managing every aspect of a racecourse is challenging, exhilarating and very varied. On a race day, you’ll be in charge: you’ll deal with everyone from customers, racehorse owners and the press, to bookmakers, caterers and jockeys. Then there is all the work behind the scenes: you must work with the marketing & hospitality team to produce successful marketing strategies, and you must also create business plans that will ensure the business thrives in the competitive leisure market, as well as oversee the budget for any projects or schemes. You’ll also supervise health, safety and maintenance and lead a very large team of staff.
You will need the intellect, charisma and organisational ability to run and drive forward a complex, varied business.
Organising a race meeting with thousands of spectators, hundreds of horses and an entourage of owners, jockeys and trainers is a real logistical challenge – one that results in a great sense of achievement when it all goes according to plan! To ensure that everything runs smoothly on the race day, racecourses hire accredited employees to help. There are three categories in which you can be accredited:
- Conduct of racing
- Racecourse husbandry
- Safety and race planning
For any of these categories, duties will include: preparing for the race day; planning timings; ensuring stewards, doctors, farriers (specialists in the hoof care of horses) and paramedics are all in attendance; and making sure the stables and parade ring are all in order. Preparation and maintenance of the racetrack – from building fences to creating the perfect racing surface – is also a very important duty. You should enjoy working outdoors, be very organised and work to high standards.
Up for the challenge? Find out more about these and many other jobs at the racecourse here