Media & Impacts

How do we Become an Option for the Fans and Workforce of the Future

Josh Apiafi’s speech at the 39^th Asian Racing Conference in Melbourne, February 2023.

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Documentaries

Racing’s Trailblazers

To celebrate Black History Month on Sky Sports, Josh Apiafi and Sean Boyce paid tribute to the sport's minority trailblazers in a special programme.

The Uncomfortable Race

Racing has been left behind other sports in the drive to encourage diversity and inclusion – that’s the verdict of three young men from ethnic minority backgrounds featured in The Uncomfortable Race, a Sky Sports Racing feature broadcast on the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

The Inclusive Race

In this special programme, Josh Apiafi speaks with incoming Epsom Racecourse Chair Brian Finch and broadcaster Rishi Persad to reflect on the sport’s move towards increased diversity and inclusion in The Inclusive Race.

Leading the Way

Rishi Persad

Rishi Persad has led a fantastic career in broadcasting. Beginning at At The Races in the early 2000s, Persad’s star has risen exponentially to become a regular face on terrestrial coverage of racing and golf today, to name but two. In this feature, Persad speaks in-depth with Sky Sports Racing’s Josh Apiafi on the issues of diversity, race and inclusion in the sport of horse racing. Persad provides an eye-opening account of a broadcaster from an ethnic background working in the racing industry, recounting shocking experiences and looking to find solutions for the betterment of the sport and society today.

Sulekha Varma

Sulekha Varma is the first female Clerk of the Course at Aintree, home of the Grand National. Here she talks to Josh Apiafi about her rise to the top of her profession and discussed issues surrounding diversity in racing, and how racecourses can help create a more diverse landscape for the sport.

Lee Mottershead

Lee Mottershead discusses his career in horse racing and how the sport has addressed LGBTQ+ inclusion in the industry, speaking with Sky Sports Racing's Josh Apiafi.

Sean Levey

As part of Black History Month in October 2020, Sky Sports celebrated black athletes and their stories. Here, Classic-winning jockey Sean Levey is joined by Josh Apiafi for a look at his background, his biggest successes and racing, and to discuss issues surrounding diversity in the sport.

Guy Disney

Josh Apiafi spoke to Afghanistan veteran and amateur jockey Guy Disney about his history-making career in the saddle, including becoming the first jockey to ride with a prosthetic limb in 2015 and winning the Grand Artillery Gold Cup on two occasions.

James Frank

James Frank, Manager of Hascombe Stud, discusses his route into the sport and how diversity and inclusion can be improved within the industry.

Mo Charge

Former bookmaker Mo Charge discusses his life in horse racing and gives his views on how the sport caters for people with disabilities.

Ashleigh Wicheard

Ashleigh Wicheard, Travelling Head person to Neil Mulholland, discusses her route into horse racing and what the sport can do to better promote itself to people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Royston Ffrench

To celebrate Black History Month on Sky Sports, Royston Ffrench meets Josh Apiafi to discuss his life in racing and what the industry can better do to promote diversity and inclusion within the sport.

Newsletter - Issue 3

Newsletter - Issue 2

Newsletter - Issue 1

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HWPA and Racing Media Academy link up to improve opportunities and diversity within the sport

A Groundbreaking Alliance: The Racing Media Academy Joins Forces with the Invictus Games Foundation

A Report on the sec d Youth Unity Gerald Lee Foundation Racing Experience weeks at the British Racing School

Arena Racing Company commitment to diversity and inclusion attracts industry first apprenticeship partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation

Youth Unity and the Gerald Leigh Foundation launch a Racing Experience Week at the British Racing School.

Youth Unity were introduced to racing as part of the Supporter Network
June 2023

Diversity role model Ashleigh Wicheard among Racing Media Academy's class of 2023

'Racing could suffer showjumping's fate unless it reflects wider society'

The Racing Media Academy - Class of '22 Announced

The Racing Foundation - Funding awarded to improve non-yard based apprenticeships in the horseracing industry

Helen Swire - Racing Pathway: Paving the way to a more inclusive sport

The Racing Media Academy - The Racing Post helps launch academy to encourage diversity in the media

The Racing Foundation - Employer Survey Released

The Racing Post - The time is for action on racings commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Racing Post – Apiafi appoints Moulson to push Non Rider Pathway

JETS - Jockeys Recognition Badge

The Racing Post - Call for ex-jockeys to be given lifetime racecourse access to aid mental health

The Daily Telegraph - The Only other Non White in Somerset was Viv Richards!

Video

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Podcasts

‘What is the future for British Horseracing?’

It was an honour and a privilege to be a guest on the Final Furlong Pod discussing where the next generation of racing fans and consumers will come from, but also where the structure of the sport is not conducive to growth.

Nick Luck Daily Podcast – The Racing Media Academy Launch,
Dec 2021

Racing Post – What a Shout – Racing Media Academy Launch
Dec 2021

The @RacingPost What A Shout Team of @PaulKealy and Patrick Mullins with master of ceremonies @DavidJenningsRP with their thoughts on the https://t.co/REkBQ3CBBj
Applications close on January 31st #RacingPathway pic.twitter.com/K7VvX2s6NF
— Josh Apiafi (@joshapiafi) December 29, 2021

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