Sarah Griffiths, Director of Marketing and Communications at Gallagher, Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, and Sophie Chambers, Managing Director, Bloodstock at Gallagher, at the launch of the partnership in Newmarket.

The Jockey Club is delighted to announce a three-year partnership with global insurance broking and risk management firm Gallagher as it continues its drive to engage with younger and more diverse audiences.

This first ever group-wide community partnership will see The Jockey Club and Gallagher work together with the collective aim of opening up the sport to young people from a broad range of backgrounds, with a focus on creating “experience days” across many of The Jockey Club’s 15 racecourses nationwide when they are not staging racedays.

It is hoped that these days will introduce more young people from all backgrounds and communities to the industry of racing and encourage them to consider it as a potential career.

Established in 1927, Gallagher is one of the largest insurance brokerage, risk management, and HR consultancy companies in the world employing over 43,000 people and providing services in more than 130 countries. For the past 13 years it has been recognised as one of the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute and supports a wide range of community sports initiatives across the globe.

The Jockey Club is the largest commercial horseracing organisation in the UK, operating 15 of Britain’s most famous racecourses, including Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom Downs and the Rowley Mile and July Course at Newmarket. Governed by Royal Charter, all profits it makes are reinvested back into the sport.

Sophie Chambers, Managing Director of Gallagher’s bloodstock practice, said: “We are passionate about the communities we help support with insurance and risk management services so we are thrilled to join forces with the team at The Jockey Club who share our aspirations for this partnership.

“Horseracing is a fantastic sport and we want to encourage more youngsters who traditionally would not consider this a career choice to consider coming into the racing and thoroughbred industry. There are hugely diverse roles available, beyond just the jockeys we see on the racecourses, all offering great future progression. We hope our series of experience days will open youngsters’ eyes to the opportunities.” 

Carey Weeks, Partnerships Director at The Jockey Club, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this ground-breaking new partnership with Gallagher, that we hope will be of great benefit to communities up and down the country. 

“One of our key objectives is to try and introduce this sport that we all love and cherish to as many new people as possible and I’m thrilled that Gallagher has agreed to join us on this journey.

“Horseracing has so much to offer both as a pastime and as a career path and we hope this upcoming project will open doors to people who might not otherwise get such opportunities.

“This is new ground for The Jockey Club with our first group-wide community relationship, but we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to link up with.

“We look forward to working with Gallagher in this exciting partnership to benefit and support as many people as we can.”