17-05-2025
Racing must not ignore tragedies afflicting vulnerable stable staff
A strange thing happened last year after Racing Welfare announced it could no longer afford to fund Simon Bailey, chaplain to the industry. Racing Welfare is meant to support those working in British horse racing. Usually it has an annual budget of between £4million and £5million. Then, when purse strings needed to be tightened, Bailey's job became a target.
Not everyone thought this a good idea. The Newmarket-based bloodstock agent Richard Brown decided something needed to be done. As the Racing Post reported at the time, Brown drew up a list of 25 potential donors. On his list were trainers and stud farms, wealthy racing enthusiasts and others whose businesses were connected to racing. Brown asked each to contribute £6,000. His target was £120,000.
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