A Career in the Horseracing Industry

[Bright Sparkx]

I was just wondering what jobs you can get within the racing industry, ive always loved thoroughbreds & theyve always been my fav breed of horse. Ive had a wish list for years that i had to ride a racehorse up the gallops just to know what it feels like, well this year it come true i done two weeks work experience and finally got to to make my dream come true and ever since ive wanted to do it again, I seem to get really in the zone when im galloping and love to go fast i just feel at one with the horse if you get me, it was the best feeling ..Ive never really looked into what types of jobs i could get into with racehorses, ive always loved the idea of having my own but id like to know exactly how much work is involved and costs etc. . Any advice would be great :)

[CityLights]

the racing industry is probably one of the only sectors in the horse industry that seems to abide by minimum wage laws and has some kind of union the place to look for job information i woudl think is the stable lad association which from what i understand if the racing industries union for the staff

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

It depends what you want to do really, i have worked on a small point to point yard for the last 4 years as a stable lass (I am in charge on a sat eve and sundays now though). I occasionally ride out on the quieter ones but i normally ride the lead horse (the sane one, well most of the time!!) as im a big wuss :lol:

Its long hard hours for very little reward if im honest, im paid minimum wage which for a part time job is fine but i wouldnt want to do it for the rest of my life. Its deffinatley a job you do for the love of it rather than the financial gain!

If you just wanted to go and ride out ie. no mucking out most yards will pay you per ride or lot.

Where did you do your work experience?

[Bright Sparkx]

I done work experience at Tim Vaughan racing

[RacingGirl]

Google careers in racing and all the info is there, I worked in racing yards for over 20 years so will kindly answer any questions.. and I have friends in racing all over the world and a few of my ex's are jockeys lol!

Its hard work, early mornings, late nights, one and a half days off every other week, sometimes not even that if your horse runs, crazy horses, the Monday Morning experience. No social life has such, no time for anything else apart from work.
If your between 16 and 21 you go to the BRS or NRC on a 9 week course.

To train racers you need money, I looked into it and there is no way I could train, you need a min of 85k has a back up.. and you have to take 3 trainers modules at the BRS. Affording a racehorses is a bit cheaper, I would suggest a point to pointer or a share in a racer, has this would be more cost viable, I have a few shares and that still cost me a few k's a year, but then I don't have kids and I am spoilt lol! And racing is my life. (hence my name lol!), most people start at the bottom and work there way up, I went from stable lass to Head Travelling Lass..

[Guesstimation]

You could be a jockey! YOu could get a job at a yard as an apprentice and go to Newmarket Racing School or the like... It is very tough, I did it but lasted about 6 months when I was 15 lol, would give anything to have a go on the gallops again but the rest I will happily miss, it was before minimum wage I worked 5am to 6pm every day with 2 hour break at lunch, every other week I would have a Sunday off, I took home £15 a week once they paid for my room (not including food etc) so at 15 it was all a bit much!

I am sure things have improved a lot and if I now then what I know now (as we always say) i'd definitely have stuck it out a bit more to do lots at the racing school.

Alternatively there is the job of just mucking in and riding out, or you could study to work behind the scenes in the offices with the occasional ride for fun

I am sure if you google lots will come up. I got my job by ringing around a load of trainers and then going to ride with the one I worked with a couple of times

[eeek]

Whereabouts do you live?

If you're interested in training and racing your own horse the cheapest way to do this is trotting and you get a lot of fun for your money. In this country very few people make a career out of it, but those who are good at it can cover their costs.

To buy the horse costs £1000+, the tack and sulky £600+, and obviously you need a vehicle but anything that can safely carry a horse will do (you can turn up in the most beaten up old wreck and not be scorned, as we have discovered). to enter your horse to race is £5-£20 plus £10 to register them with the racing association each year. Including shoes, feed, entries, diesel (everything basically), a year's racing works out at about £1000 which is not too bad and you get plenty of fun for your money. Compared to pointing each horse runs a lot more often. Once a week for 5 or 6 months is fine, for example.

[Bright Sparkx]

I have emailed some racing trainers in my area to ask for some jobs even if it means starting off mucking out i dont really mind, but ive always wanted an ex racer or something to improve and learn more about how they ride race horses, because ive been told by a no. of different people to buy and ex race and just practice the riding techniques till i get a job or go on a course. Because i have been up the gallops before and they told me there i just needed to improve my 'jockey' position and to consider buying an ex race horse and ride it round a menage to get improve my position, because ive got the confidence and ability to do well. I think i might struggle as a jockey cause im quite tall im 5'6 and 8 1/2 stone im not sure of what the height weight has to be now? but even if i could train would be nice :)

[RacingGirl]

there is no height restriction, but weight yes, jump jockeys min weight is 10 stone and flat is 7st 12lb.
The only way to get your position better etc is start riding out for trainers... don't just get a ex-racer for this, a ex-racer wants a life away from racing style, and all racers are broken to classical seat, the only time people in yards ride short are on the gallops, when on the roads etc, most ride long.

And the saying is ride long, live long, you will have an better seat if the horse bucks, broncs, rears etc

[Bright Sparkx]

Thanks for the advice I've emailed a few yards asking if they have any jobs and training available so hopefully I'll hear from someone soon :)

[Denmania]

Where abouts are you based? Tim Vaughns isn't very far from me and I know quite a lot of the guys who work down there!

Sorry but I don't know how old you are, so I hope this doesn't come across as condescending! Why don't you ring around some yards and ask if they want anyone to help mucking out on the weekend? It's experience and you will get to ride the quiet ones to start off with and learn. Unless you've had experience with racers or can ride very well a lot of trainers aren't going to put you on their horses straight away. They are very valuable and can't risk letting them get loose or running away with you on the gallop incase they injure themselves.

I started working for a trainer 4 years ago around uni and went from mucking out on weekends to riding out 6 lots every day and schooling! I was the main girl who took runners on weekends and managed the yard on my own some days. I loved it. I don't work there so often anymore as I have a full time job, but whenever I can I get up there to muck out. It's fantastic fun!

I've just been luck enough to do the BHA graduate course, its a course for 20 graduates from all around the country to try and get work in the industry in more executive roles. If you're in uni you could maybe apply for that?

[Bright Sparkx]

Tims yard is about 45 minutes away from me i went there on work experience i have emailed him again recently about a job so see what happens :) i dont really mind if its just mucking out to start with im happy doing anything that involves horses lol