Racing is everyone’s sport: Our vision is for racing to be inclusive, safe, and welcoming, because it’s better when we’re all in the race. 

British racing is a diverse and wide‑reaching industry, with a workforce, participant base and audience drawn from across the UK and beyond. But diversity alone does not automatically create inclusion, opportunity or fairness and the sport continues to face significant challenges linked to representation, culture, and belonging. 

Independent research into the experiences of ethnically and culturally diverse employees found that many do not always experience racing as inclusive or welcoming.  

While racing staff represent 68 nationalities, including 6% Indian and 4% Irish employees, people from underrepresented backgrounds continue to report barriers to progression, unequal experiences and a lack of visible representation in more senior roles across the industry. 

These challenges are not separate from the wider issues British racing faces around workforce shortages, retention and long-term sustainability. 

According to workforce survey data, 19% of employers in British horseracing report skills gaps, and the industry consistently has over 500 unfilled roles, particularly in horse-facing positions such as stable staff and work riders. 

Additionally, staff retention rates have dropped from 86% in 2013 to 80% in 2023, pointing to a cultural issue driving away talent. Creating environments where people feel respected, supported, and able to succeed is essential if racing is to attract and retain the diverse talent it needs for the future. 

The same patterns can be seen in gender representation across the sport.  Women make up 70% of racing school students and around 50% of racing staff, yet representation significantly declines in senior and high-profile areas.  

Female jockeys comprise 25% of all jockeys, but only 14% of professionals.  Despite evidence showing they perform on par with their male counterparts, they receive just 9% of rides and only 3% of rides in top-tier races.  This underrepresentation at higher levels highlights the structural and cultural barriers that still exist within the sport. 

Diversity and inclusion work is critical to the future health, sustainability and relevance of British racing. Creating a sport where everyone feels included, safe, welcome and able to progress will strengthen racing’s workforce, broaden its appeal, and help ensure the sport reflects the society it serves. 

Because it’s better when we’re all in the race. 

Our Approach to Diversity & Inclusion in British Racing 

Building a diverse and inclusive culture is a shared responsibility across British racing. Organisations across the sport play a critical role in creating inclusive environments within their own contexts, recognising the different structures, challenges and opportunities that exist across the industry. 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) supports this work by setting strategic direction, coordinating activity, and working with industry partners to enable progress. This includes co-designing shared frameworks like the Rider Development Pathway to make sure they’re inclusive, facilitating collaboration, and providing practical support to organisations at different stages of their journey through the Industry Commitment programme. 

Industry EDI Strategy 

Racing’s cross-industry’s EDI Strategy sets out a three-year framework for advancing inclusion across British racing. It reflects engagement with organisations across the sport, alongside analysis of available data and research. 

The strategy provides a clear direction of travel, with actions to strengthen leadership, improve fairness, widen opportunity and engage new audiences. This work is informed by ongoing research and insight, including targeted analysis of diversity within the sport.  

Read about the Industry EDI Strategy 

How we are supporting progress 

A number of initiatives and programmes are in place to support the delivery of the Industry EDI Strategy. Some of the larger programmes are as follows: 

Industry Commitment Programme 

The Industry Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Programme brings together organisations across racing around a shared set of principles and areas of focus. Each signatory organisation identifies its own priorities and actions, supported by practical guidance and opportunities for collaboration and shared learning. 

Find out more about the Industry Commitment

Inclusive Learning Campaign 

The Inclusive Learning Campaign aims strengthen diversity and inclusion education across British racing, with a focus on practical, tangible actions relevant to each person’s specific role. 

This includes reviewing existing education pathways across the industry to better understand what learning is needed, where it is most effective, and who it should support.  

Inclusive Governance Programme 

A decision made without diverse perspectives is a decision made without all the information.  That’s why we are working with boards and senior leadership teams across the industry to support more inclusive decision‑making by increasing the diversity of perspectives considered. 

This includes exploring changes to recruitment, succession planning, and new approaches to stakeholder involvement. The aim is to support boards to make decisions that better reflect the diversity of the sport and the communities they serve.  

Building a clearer picture of progress 

Over time, work is underway to improve how diversity and inclusion activity and progress is understood across British racing. This includes developing approaches to data collection, insight sharing, and reporting. 

As this work evolves, further information and tools will be made available to support organisations and provide a clearer collective picture of progress across the industry.  

Want to get involved? 

Creating a more inclusive sport is not something any one organisation can do alone. Progress across British racing depends on people being willing to listen, share ideas, challenge barriers and help shape positive change. 

Whether you:

– want support with inclusive practices within your organisation, 
– have an idea that could help make racing more welcoming and representative, 
– are interested in collaborating on diversity and inclusion work, 
– or simply want to learn more about how you can play a part, or join an affinity group 

We want to hear from you. 

Inclusion in racing is a collective effort, and meaningful change happens when more people choose to get involved. Email us at [email protected] to get in touch. 

Reporting discriminatory language or behaviour

If you have experienced discriminatory language or behaviour, or have witnessed it, you can share it anonymously through RaceWISE, the BHA’s reporting service, via WhatsApp, SMS, email or by calling 08000 24 24 50.