With fierce competition for young people’s attention – what odds racing passing them by? Artwork

Racing Together

Exploring British horseracing as a force for good in society: through education and employability; health and wellbeing and community engagement activity. Racing Together is a racing industry initiative funded by the HBLB, and is made up of a partnership of organisations working together to grow community engagement activity across the sport and beyond. Visit www.racingtogether.co.uk for more.

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Racing Together

With fierce competition for young people’s attention – what odds racing passing them by?

January 13, 2022 • Racing Together • Season 1 • Episode 5

Join our expert panel hosted by TV Presenter and Freelance Journalist Sally Ann Grassick as they explore how we can engage racing’s next generation of fans, racegoers and staff. They highlight some of the challenges as well as exciting initiatives designed to broaden the sport’s appeal.

Meet the Panel

Host: Sally Ann Grassick

Sally Ann is a TV Presenter and Freelance Journalist. A keen Racing to School Ambassador and founder of Thoroughbred Tales, a social media channel dedicated to showcasing racing stories from those behind-the-scenes.

Elaine Burke

Elaine Burke, Industry Education and Training Co-ordinator for HRI’s equuip department, comes from a Tipperary family involved in racing. Equuip is all about attracting people into the industry and setting out different pathways for them to progress.

Elaine says: “You don’t have to come from a racing background to work in the industry and I think that is a really important message. We cover everything from how to attract new entrants to racing, encourage current staff with upskilling and training, and support trainers to sustain employees. There are all kinds of programmes offering mental health first aid, financial assistance, education on people welfare, career paths.”

Arvin Chadee

A recent graduate of both the National Horseracing College and the Godolphin Flying Start programme, Arvin’s interest in racing started as a child visiting Epsom Downs for the Derby meeting with his dad.

Samantha Martin

Juggling school alongside a developing journalism career, Samantha writes for Rein It In Racing and Careers in Racing, and is an ambassador for Go Racing Green.

Tim Williams

Tim is Producer/Editor of BAFTA-winning ITV Racing and The Opening Show. He was a Sport Industry NextGen Leader in 2020 and sits on the Racing Together Subcommittee. Tim has worked for ITV Racing since shortly before its launch at the start of 2017, as a producer and programme editor. This year ITV will show over 100 days of live free-to-air racing, as well as The Opening Show every Saturday morning and throughout major festivals. During the pandemic, Tim coordinated projects such as ‘Owners on Zoom’, ‘Home Schooling’, ‘Reliant on Racing’ and the Sunday Series. Prior to working at ITV, he worked as a news journalist for Sky News and Sky Sports News.
Find out more at https://www.racingtogether.co.uk/