National Racehorse Week: book your visit for free

National Racehorse Week will return from Saturday, 9th September for the third consecutive year as British racing's headline welfare and engagement campaign welcomes 126 different venues opening doors for free to the public - with event bookings open from today via nationalracehorseweek.uk.

Run by Great British Racing and with principal funding from The Racing Foundation and The Horserace Betting Levy Board, National Racehorse Week is the sport’s biggest campaign to bring people across Britain behind the scenes of racing to show the incredible work that goes into the care of thoroughbreds, and give real-life insights into the lives racehorses lead.

As well as behind-the-scenes open days at training yards, studs, after care and rehoming centres, trainers and owners of former racehorses will be taking racehorses to local schools, care homes and into urban areas to showcase the thoroughbred to the wider community as part of the week-long initiative.

Great British Racing, the sport's central marketing arm which runs National Racehorse Week, aims to engage with at least 2,000 people through community engagement in addition to the 13,500 free spaces available via the open days. Community events will also include trainers hosting school visits, youth groups, charities and urban equestrian centres.

The initiative also provides a vital platform to further racing’s community engagement and draw new audiences to the sport,in addition to integrating the industry's several recruitment, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Last year, 87% of attendees that were not regular racegoers or new to racing said National Racehorse Week positively changed their opinion of racehorse care, while 97% of attendees would promote National Racehorse Week to a friend after visiting an event.

Rod Street, Chief Executive Officer at Great British Racing, said: “We are proud to run such an important initiative as National Racehorse Week. It provides the chance for members of the public to come behind the scenes of our sport to see the high-level of care racehorses receive and the range of careers they move on to after racing.

“There are still opportunities for racing’s participants to get involved in National Racehorse Week and show support. This is racing’s chance to make its case for how well cared for horses are and share the important role racing plays in British life.

“Whether it is hosting an open day, taking a horse into the local community, or promoting National Racehorse Week at racecourses, Great British Racing is encouraging as many organisations and trainers as possible to take part. We also hope that our dedicated racing fans will invite friends who are new to the sport to attend open days with them.”

Originally the idea of trainer Richard Phillips, National Racehorse Week is a vital tool to showcase the best that the industry carries out and now more than ever.

Phillips said: “I am delighted to support National Racehorse Week once again. It is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the racehorse and all the incredible benefits that this beautiful animal brings to the world, while shining a light on the bond between human and equine including the physical and mental benefits for each. I greatly look forward to witnessing all the examples that will be on show throughout the thoroughbred industry during this week-long celebration.”

With 126 venues already signed up to participate in 2023 including the stable of Phillips as well as yards of leading trainers Nicky Henderson, Charlie Johnston, Kim Bailey and Dan Skelton, racing can once again boldly open its doors to create a positive impression of the sport for existing and new racing fans.

National Racehorse Week will be bookended by the open days taking place at Malton on 10th September and The Henry Cecil Open Weekend in Newmarket on 23rd and 24th September 2023, bringing the total number of locations on offer to the public during that period to more than 160. These events are not free to attend, though ticketing proceeds go directly to Racing Welfare, the British Racing School and Newmarket Open Door.