In an effort to create a pathway into racing through pony racing, a five-year funding boost of £180,000 was announced by the Racing Foundation and Pony Racing Authority on Monday. The Pony Racing Authority will collaborate to deliver on this new pathway strategy with Racing to School, the Pony Club, Careers in Racing, the British Racing School and the National Horseracing College. One of the specific areas the strategy will focus on is increasing diversity and inclusion among pony racing participants by engaging with youngsters from a wider range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
Activities that will be expanded thanks to the new funding are:
- Pony Racing Academies for youngsters with no link to racing and no pony of their own
- Pony Club camp visits, training days and pony racing days.
- Taster sessions and 'Buzz' days.
- Careers advice and further training.
- Training of pony racing instructors.
- School visits and recruitment fairs.
- Stand-alone pony racing days.
- Development of track and trace systems to follow the progression of youngsters into racing.
The Racing Foundation funding will last from 2021-2025, with an independent evaluation of progress and impact at the end of 2022. For more information, go to www.britishhorseracing.com.
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