As part of British racing’s commitment to the highest standards of racehorse care, the Horse Welfare Board (HWB) has launched a brand-new training course to strengthen knowledge of gallops and ground maintenance at training facilities for racehorse trainers and their staff.
We’re delighted that this course has been developed in partnership with STRI and Jockey Club Estates, building on insights from our in-depth analysis of racing surfaces within the wider HWB Ground and Going project.
Our very own Sarah Hosmer, Principal Consultant, alongside Will Riggall of Jockey Club Estates, will lead the training. The course blends classroom sessions on surface composition and maintenance procedures with hands-on practical workshops on equipment and surface assessments.
The objective is to ensure the welfare of the jockey and horse are always put first, and respect is given for those tending to the courses day in and day out.
This course is designed for yard staff with full, part-time, or hybrid responsibilities for gallop maintenance as well as those interested in learning more about ground management, each session is limited to 15 participants, ensuring practical, interactive learning.
Thanks to generous support from the Racing Foundation, all 2025 courses are provided free of charge.
Course dates:
- Lambourn – 1 October 2025, 11am–3pm
- Malton – 7 October 2025, 11am–3pm
- Kinross, Perthshire – 8 October 2025, 11am–3pm
- Lambourn – 22 October 2025, 11am–3pm
We’re looking forward to the upcoming sessions in October.
