What courses do we deliver at The British Racing School?

knowledge and skill in particular areas.

The Trainers Modules 1, 2 and 3 look at Racehorse Care and Management (Module 1), Business Skills for Racehorse Trainers (Module 2) and Staff Management (Module 3), with talks and presentations from industry specialists as well as providing a great networking opportunity.

The 3-day Assistant Trainers Course covers subjects including staff management, handicapping, media training, Health and Safety, Racing Welfare, BHA’s Licensing and Security functions and Weatherbys Operations and the Rules.

Admin/Industry Courses

The Racing Secretaries course is aimed at secretaries new to racing and people looking to progress to administrative roles within the industry. This 3-day course covers the role of a racing secretary, insight from well-established racing secretaries, and includes introductions to key organisations such as the International Racing Bureau, the National Trainers Federation, and the British Horseracing Authority.

With the option to progress to an Honours Degree, the 24-month Foundation Degree delivers a broad programme of learning and offers a fascinating insight into the horseracing industry, with students achieving a FdSc Horseracing Industry Award from Hartpury University. Other administrative and industrybased courses include the Racing Media Academy and the BHA’s week-long The Racing Industry Course (TRIC).

Trainers/Senior Staff Courses

The BHA requires all those who apply for training licences and permits to satisfy a range of mandatory criteria, including passing specific modules to improve their

The Yard Managers course is run over two days and covers communication, handling conflict, employment law, motivation, team building and styles of leadership.

A stand-alone Level 3 Diploma in Work Based Racehorse Care and Management has been designed specifically for the racing industry and is a nationally recognised, skill-based qualification. This is the ideal way to increase knowledge about racehorse care and management and, with experience, prepare for a position of responsibility. A Level 3 Diploma is a mandatory requirement for all prospective permit holders and licensed racehorse trainers, and it is linked to the Grade A racing wage.

Ground Based Courses

The 6-week residential Ground Based Yard Staff Course is aimed at anyone who is keen to work in racing but doesn’t want to ride. It covers mucking out, tacking up, travel horses, horse walkers, tractor driving, first aid training, feeding and horse health. It is aimed at people who wish to work in racing but are not keen to ride and at the end of the course, assistance is given by the BRS to find employment in a racing yard.

Animal welfare legislation requires that those who transport horses in connection with an economic activity on journeys over 65kms must hold a Certificate of Competence. The regular Transport Qualification courses at BRS offer a Level 3 Award in both the Principles of Transporting Horses by Road on Short Journeys, and on Long Journeys (Attendant or Attendant/ Driver).

Additional Staff Development Courses

The Introduction to Riding Work course is designed to give competent stable staff the opportunity to learn about riding work, covering the basic theory and aims behind riding work.

A week-long Transition to Racing course is aimed at those over 21 who are fit, confident and competent riders, and aims to give them enough knowledge and ability to secure employment in a racing yard.

International Training

The earliest regular international training we provided started in 2007 with the Korea Racing Authority. Much of the training we provide is for jockeys but we have also trained racehorse trainers from a variety of nationalities on the Godolphin (previously Darley) Flying Start programme. We have provided training for individuals – mainly from the Gulf States - and for groups. In 2013 at the behest of Darley, we arranged training for a group of Chinese jockeys under a scheme funded by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Two further cohorts of Chinese jockeys came to us over the two subsequent years. We have also provided training for South African jockeys through a programme generously funded by the Childwick Trust and for jockeys from Poland, Scandinavia, Hungary, Czech Republic and, most recently, ten jockeys from the Turkish Jockey Club.

Our annual Racing Industry Course (TRIC) has attracted interest from America, Germany, France, Oman, Japan and Singapore. Prior to Brexit, we trained around twenty young people a year from other European countries as government funding for Foundation course training extended to those from the EU. For several years we would train a complete course from Sweden who remained in this country for a year after their course, working in racing yards, before invariably returning home to assist the racing industry in Sweden. We continue to offer bespoke international training programmes for a wide range of countries.

“The British Racing School is one of the leading racing schools in the world. We are so glad to collaborate with them and develop a training programme of international standing, delivered by a professional team of instructors, using their excellent facilities.”

Licencing stipulations for all jockeys riding in the UK require mandatory training, education and development. The British Racing School delivers this on behalf of the BHA. We cater for all jockey training, including apprentice and conditional licence courses, Cat A and Cat B amateur licences and point to point licences. With bespoke courses for overseas jockeys who have held a licence in their country, and ongoing training through the BHA Jockey Training Programme, the School offers a comprehensive array of jockey courses to benefit the full spectrum of the horseracing industry.

Richard Perham – Head of Coaching, South

Richard is based at The British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket and has been the Head of Jockey Coaching since January 2005.

His main role is to train and assess professional and amateur jockeys for their riding licences. He has played an active role in developing the Jockey Coaching Programme and continues to enjoy helping riders to develop their skills and also sharing his knowledge of coaching with the less experienced jockey coaches. He retired from professional race riding in 2001 having spent 16 years as a professional flat jockey winning 230 domestic races.