A-Z of Careers

Writing about the complex and exciting world of racing is a fascinating job. Whether you’re reporting from racedays, writing about changes in the industry or interviewing some of racing’s colourful personalities, its an absorbing role.

Working as part of the British Horseracing Authority Raceday Officials team.  A Judge announces the placings of each race, including the analysis of the photo finish when required.

A  Marketing Executive is mainly responsible for all marketing, advertising, sponsorship, social media and business development. Good communication and time keeping is essential along with being able to work on your own initiative and being creative.

A nominations executive is a specialist marketing type role at at Stud.  It is the nomination teams’ job to book coverings of mares by the stallion stand at that stud. They are the first port of call for most clients and that means a lot of answering the phone and following up on clients.

With overall responsibility for Health and Safety, and the day to day operation of a racecourse working closely with sales & hospitality and catering teams.

Based at Weatherbys who control the Thoroughbred Stud book, this role involved researching and editing pedigrees.

A number of Personal Assistants and general admin staff are employed by racecourses and other companies within the racing industry. Often they will supply admin duties to Chairmans, Chief Executives and other management roles.

Some vacancies for admin staff will appear on our job board from time to time.

A Racecourse Executive can be responsible for a variety of areas at a racecourse. Often they will speak to sponsors, arrange presentations, sort out the trophies and prizes following a race and carry out general office duties on non-race days. The skills required for this role include good communications skills, organisational skills and being able to work as part of a team.

Each racecourse has a Safety Officer to ensure that the Police, Security Team and Managing Executive are in control and in contact.  You’ll be responsible for producing careful incident plans which will enable you to do everything from making emergency public addresses to deploying personnel swiftly to trouble spots in the event of an incident.

A Racing Groom is responsible for the care and exercise of racehorses, it is a key role in the racing industry. A lot of people, including many successful Trainers and Jockeys, would start their career as a Racing Groom.

The job of Racing Groom is the most common route into the racing industry for young people, the first step in becoming a Racing Groom is to complete the Apprenticeship in Racehorse Care which you can do through the Training Providers. To find out more about the work of a Racing Groom read the Case Study or take a look at our Racing Groom guide.

There is also lots of information available on the Racing Groom website and You Tube channel including useful videos on What to Wear when, for example, leading up at the races in the winter and summer. Find out more about racinggroom.com here.

The role of a Racing Secretary can be very varied.  The mornings tend to be very busy and the first important deadline is declarations for runners the next day, which have to be made by 10am.  This involves finding out the ground, opposition and jockeys available to make an informed decision on running plans. Other duties include doing the monthly wages, race entries, liaising with owners, updating website/social media, making sure the health and safety regulations are met and ordering supplies.

To find out more about the work of a Racing Secretary read the Case Study. Both the Northern Racing College and British Racing School run Racing Secretary Training Courses, if you would like to start a job as a Racing Secretary it is recommended you attend this course.

Working at a stud you will be a specialist in handling stallions around the yard and during the breeding process.

Working as part of the British Horseracing Authority Raceday Officials team, the Starter is in charge of ensuring that each horse has a fair start and ensuring the race starts on time.  The Starter will work closely with stewards and stalls handlers.

Working as part of the British Horseracing Authority Raceday Officials team, the Steward’s role ensures all races are run smoothly and within the rules of racing at all meetings. There are usually two Stewards at every race meeting and three at the major meetings such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival.  They assist the Stewards’ Panel Chair when making decisions following an enquiry into a race and will be supported by a BHA Assistant Steward and a BHA Raceday Assistant.

A senior role in a stud, stud grooms are second in command to the stud manager.  Responsibilities include care and welfare of horses, and the managing and training of staff.

As a Stud Hand you will be in charge of mares and foals from grooming to mucking out and assisting throughout the breeding season, working as a Stud Hand would often be the first job for young people starting a job in the breeding industry.

The first step in becoming a Stud Hand is to complete the Entry to Stud Employment Programme at the National Stud in Newmarket. Following on from this, after gaining further relevant work experience, it is possible to complete the National Stud’s Diploma in Stud Practice and Management.

A largely office based role you will be responsible for the business side of the stud, alongside overseeing the welfare of the horses. You might be involved in breeding some of the best horses in the country. Learn more about this exciting career, watch Will’s video.

Working at a stud the role of Stud Secretary involves a variety of duties; liaising with owners, handling accounts and maintaining records.  The tasks you perform will make sure the stud runs smoothly.

To find out more about the work of a Stud Secretary read the Case Study. The National Stud, a training provider based in Newmarket, run a Stud Secretary Training Course.

A Trainer is responsible for running the entire yard as a business enterprise responsible for the staff, training the horses and all aspects of management.  It takes many years of experience to become a trainer and you will need to apply for a Licence to Train under the British Horseracing Authority.

A Travelling Head Groom is responsible for taking horses to the races in the UK and often abroad. A bad experience in a lorry, can easily make the difference between winning and losing. High standards and a good work ethic are absolutely essential.