Applications are now open for the 2026 British Horseracing Development Programme, which has teamed up for the first time with the 10,000 Interns Foundation’s 10,000 Black Interns Programme as it continues to strive to showcase a career in racing to a diverse pool of outstanding talent.
The British Horseracing Development Programme offers those leaving higher education, or with equivalent skills and capabilities, the opportunity to explore a career in racing. It begins with a two-week residential induction course at the British Racing School in Newmarket, during which speakers from across the industry deliver talks alongside visits to key venues including Tattersalls, Newmarket Racecourses and historic training yards.
This is followed by a placement of a minimum of eight weeks at one of a range of employers across racecourses, racing’s administrators, the written media, the British Horseracing Authority and more.
The programme has acted as a pathway into the industry for a number of leading figures, with Alan Delmonte (Horserace Betting Levy Board Chief Executive), Ed Chamberlin (award-winning ITV Racing lead presenter) and Sulekha Varma (Jockey Club Regional Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree) among an extensive list of notable alumni.
Over the decades, it has championed inclusion of all underrepresented groups and sees applications for the programme from a unique mix of racing fans to those with no experience of the sport. The careersinracing team continue to seek ways to reach the widest possible pool of potential applicants via its recruitment advertising and partnerships.
As a result, the 2026 British Horseracing Development Programme will be partnered for the first time with the 10,000 Black Interns Programme, which seeks to match interns with opportunities in work areas in which they have expressed an interest.
The programme has been developed by the 10,000 Interns Foundation, a non-profit organisation whose goal is to improve the opportunities and experiences for Black people in Britain.
Zoe Elliott, Head of Careers Marketing and Recruitment for Careersinracing, said: “The celebration of 35 years of the British Horseracing Development Programme was a great moment and it was wonderful to be reminded once again of the enduring impact of this very special programme.
“One thing that came through loud and clear over the course of those celebrations was the way in which the programme has continually evolved over all those years and we are proud to continue in that tradition by partnering with the 10,000 Interns Foundation for 2026 as we look to identify ways to enhance what we do.
“The programme has always been about identifying outstanding potential and showing them everything a career in our sport has to offer. We are always looking for ways to ensure we are searching for those individuals by casting the net as wide as possible and the 10,000 Interns Foundation is a perfect additional partner to help us to do this.
“As always, we’re excited to begin receiving what I am sure will once again be many outstanding applications as we embark on the 36th year of the British Horseracing Development Programme.”
Notes to editors:
1. For more information on the British Horseracing Development Programme, including how to apply for 2026, click here.
2. The 10,000 Interns Foundation started as a small project to address the lack of Black representation in Investment Management in the City of London. In 2020, it launched the 100 Black Interns Programme to offer paid internship opportunities to Black students and graduates. What began as a sector-specific initiative quickly gained national momentum, sparking calls for expansion into other industries and shaping a much larger mission: to create 10,000 internships for Black students and graduates across 25 sectors in the UK over five years. In 2025, the Foundation reached its goal of 10,000 internship opportunities and has grown beyond it. Today, it is the UK’s fastest-growing pipeline of Black talent, creating opportunities across 35 sectors and connecting ambitious individuals with organisations committed to real change.
