The Horseracing Industry Conference 2020

Two jockeys racing

This is no time to assume that the status quo is secure.
Tuesday 18 February 2020, 09:30-16:30

The University of Liverpool in partnership with the Racing Foundation.


Breakout sessions from the conference are now available to view online: 

Equine Stream

  • Working with Former Racehorses to Optimise Physical and Mental Well-being in Human: An Analysis of the Suitability of Thoroughbreds for the use in Equine Therapy (Margaret O'Sullivan)
  • Post-race heat stress in thoroughbreds: prevalence and possible associated risk factors (Sally Lyons)
  • Breeze up horses: How do they perform versus yearling sales and are they better value? (Fiona Dowling)

People Stream 

  • Racing to a Staffing Solution: An investigation into the current staffing crisis within the UK horseracing industry (Liz Juckes)
  • Happy staff produce winners: To what extent does leadership influence staff retention in British horseracing? (Debbie Grey)
  • The experiences and perceptions of young adults employed in the horseracing and breeding industry (Christina Sell)

Delivered in partnership with The Racing Foundation, the conference brought together expertise from sector leaders and researchers from higher education to explore how cutting-edge research can help the UK horseracing industry thrive. Research findings covered breeze up horses, leadership in racing, post-race heat stress, equine therapy for wellbeing, and the experiences of young adults in the industry.

Keynote speakers included Annamarie Phelps, British Horseracing Authority Chair, Alan Switzer, Director (Sports Business Group), Deloitte , Simon Bazalgette, Independent NED, EFL/Development Board Member, The Roundhouse/Global Advisory Board Member, SkillSonics International
and Martin Fewell, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, British Horseracing Authority.