NYRA and Beyond: Equipping the Next Generation of Racing Talent

In a progressive move to better connect young people with the racing world, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is offering students something too often missing in the sport: visibility and access.

By bringing students behind the scenes, introducing them to racing professionals, and offering career-path internships, NYRA is doing more than providing work experience — it’s creating entry points into an industry often seen as closed or inaccessible.

This isn't just a feel-good project. It’s a strategic push to build a future racing workforce that is educated, enthusiastic, and diverse.

At Equitas, we talk a lot about fairness, representation, and support. Programmes like this are what that looks like in practice. But how does NYRA’s model compare with what's already happening in other parts of the world?

How Does NYRA’s Programme Stack Up Globally?

🇮🇪 Ireland – R.A.C.E. (Racing Academy & Centre of Education)

Ireland’s flagship training centre, RACE, based in Kildare, has long been considered a gold standard for jockey training and racing education. It offers residential programmes, apprenticeships, and transition year taster courses that help young people experience racing firsthand. While it serves an essential function, its core focus remains on jockey and stable staff training, rather than broader industry exposure like NYRA’s initiative provides. There’s opportunity here for more crossover with media, equine science, sports psychology, and other career avenues that exist within the industry.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom – British Racing School (BRS), National Horseracing College (NHC)

The UK offers strong vocational training through two main institutions — the British Racing School in Newmarket and the National Horseracing College in Doncaster. These schools provide hands-on training for jockeys and stable staff, and also run outreach with schools and youth organisations to spark early interest. While both are making solid efforts to diversify participation, the outreach tends to skew towards roles in the saddle or on the ground. NYRA’s programme stands out for offering access to a broader range of roles across the entire racing ecosystem.

🇪🇺 European Union – AFASEC (France), SNAI Academy (Italy)

Across the EU, approaches vary. In France, AFASEC (Association de Formation et d’Action Sociale des Écuries de Courses) provides boarding school-style education and on-the-job training across multiple campuses, with a focus on grooms and jockeys. Italy’s SNAI Academy focuses on breeding, training, and veterinary education but is not widely accessible. Overall, these programmes are robust, but often fragmented, and not always inclusive or accessible to underrepresented demographics. There’s still a lack of clear strategy for engaging young people outside of the usual rural or horse-centric backgrounds.

🇦🇺 Australia – Racing Victoria’s Schools Programme, Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC)

Australia has seen strong progress through Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC), a national initiative offering paid work experience, industry taster weeks, and mentoring. TIC works closely with Racing NSW and Racing Victoria. Racing Victoria also runs a Schools Programme designed to educate primary and secondary students on racing careers, focusing on equine welfare, farriery, training, and more. These initiatives are promising and continue to evolve, though many still rely heavily on urban proximity or prior equine exposure, limiting true accessibility.

🇨🇦 Canada – Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program (OEEEP)

In Canada, OEEEP, supported by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, offers a short training and job placement programme that connects participants to careers in racing and breeding. While impactful, its scale is currently limited to Ontario. There’s potential for broader national rollout — and NYRA’s wide-reaching, student-led model could provide a roadmap.

A Clear Takeaway: Equity Needs Intentional Design

Across the board, racing education and outreach is evolving — but too often, it remains niche, narrowly focused, or reliant on legacy systems. NYRA’s initiative is refreshingly modern in its scope, welcoming students into a range of roles across the sport. That includes administration, operations, veterinary care, media, and more.

This is what equity looks like when it’s done well: systems that don’t just invite people in — they show them around, hand them the tools, and give them the space to build a career.

We see the same need echoed across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Canada. The talent is there. The passion is there. What’s missing, far too often, is access.

At Equitas, we champion any initiative that helps create that access. But more than that, we challenge industry leaders around the world to ask: Are we truly opening the doors wide enough?

If racing is to thrive in the next generation, it cannot afford to keep talent on the outside looking in.