Want to find out more about careers in racing and equestrian jobs? Watch the ‘Race to your Career’ podcast series!
In this episode of the ‘Race to your Career’ podcast, you can listen to two apprentices of the racing staff with contrasting backgrounds.
Gareth Ball who holds a plethora of jobs within the industry, did not come from a traditionally “horsey” background and was the only student at his school to pursue a career in racing.
Compared to Amelie Davies who loved horses from a young age and followed her passion into a successful career now working in a racing yard in Newmarket.
Watch the video below to find out about their experiences at the two racing schools, some of the challenges they faced early on and how they overcame them. 
How an you start your career in racing?
Gareth started off at National Horseracing College straight after finishing school, this is where he learnt how to ride a horse which opened a world of opportunities in a horse racing career. Racing School was a very different but exciting experience for Gareth, it’s a great opportunity to learn about horse racing if you’re passionate about it and you can meet a lot of great people that share the same passion for horse racing.
Amelie had a passion for horse racing at a young age and believed that horse racing was the right career path for her. She originally planned to go to University but discovered Racing Schools, and like Gareth, she attended the National Racing College as she felt that was the natural progression for her horse racing career.
What would you say to someone looking to start a career in horse racing?
The best way to start your horse racing career if you’re unsure of what route you would like to take is to get as much experience as you can in the different fields. Amelie got a lot of experience in horse vetenary jobs and from this experience she realised that this wasn’t the right path for her. It wasn’t until she did a week of work experience with a horse trainer where she decided that this was the route she wanted to take.
Experiencing the many routes you can take helps you decide what you want to do because you can learn what you enjoy and don’t enjoy doing.
What helped Gareth adjust from school to training to become a jockey at a young age with no prior experience in horse racing was that many others at racing school were in the same boat as him. This made him feel much more comfortable as they were all training at the same time for a career they are all passionate about.
You get a lot of support from the people around you, including your friends at the racing school, colleagues and your employers; so you’re not alone in this industry.
What is your favourite part of your role?
Amelie’s favourite aspect of her role is seeing how the horses progress. Seeing the horses grow and get better at racing is the most fulfilling part of her job as a yard keeper.
Gareth enjoys the variety of tasks and the flexibility of his role as a jockey. Being a jockey isn’t just about riding horses, every day is different and you have the flexibility to have control over your schedule.
What key qualities do you need in a horse racing career?
Gareth states one of the important qualities you need in the horse racing industry is resilience.
What helped Gareth adjust from school to training to become a jockey at a young age with no prior experience in horse racing was that many others at racing school were in the same boat as him. This made him feel much more comfortable as they were all training at the same time for a career they are all passionate about. You get a lot of support from the people around you, including your friends at the racing school, colleagues and your employers.
So, what is Careers in Racing?
Careers in Racing is a BHA brand that aims to share everything you need to know about horse racing careers. It’s your one stop shop to find more information about starting a career in racing.
Getting started in horse racing jobs
Whether you love horses and can’t wait to get a job that allows you to work with them, or whether you’re completely new to the sport and would prefer a role in marketing, HR, and even IT that isn’t a hands-on role, this episode is a great starting point for your career journey.
You can also visit the Careers in Racing hub to find out more about the opportunities on offer.
Discover Careers in Racing
British Racing is the second largest spectator sport, after football. See why it’s a great career choice for ALL young people!
Careers In Racing
