How did you get into this role?

During the second year of my degree, BSc hons Equine Performance & Business Management at ARU Writtle, I attended a career round table event. Upon speaking to Weatherby’s, I discovered that the racing industry offered a wide variety of jobs including media and marketing roles which I have always been interested in. I applied for an internship with Weatherby’s Private Bank but unfortunately didn’t get the position. Throughout the application process I learnt that an internship was something I really wanted to achieve during my summer break to improve my skills and delve deeper into the racing industry. Neil Graham, the racing director at Chelmsford City Racecourse, came into our equestrian enterprise management class to talk to us about his story and the different careers in racing. I decided to take the opportunity to speak with Neil and ask if an internship was something that Chelmsford City Racecourse could offer. I have now been at Chelmsford City Racecourse for over two months and will continue to learn here before going back to university in September.

What does a normal working day for you involve?

At Chelmsford City Racecourse my internship is very varied. This is great for someone like me who is relatively new to horse racing. I have always had my own horses and show jumped, however racing is a whole different world which I am growing a passion for. Most of my time is spent in marketing, learning from the social media and marketing executive, digital marketing executive and the creative lead. This will include contacting companies, assisting in content creation and helping to develop new tactics. I have learned so much from the girls, sitting in on meetings and broadening my knowledge with their guidance.

I have also been lucky enough to get some hands-on experience in the yard on race days, including mucking out and tape behind the stalls. I have really enjoyed learning more about racing from the trackside and making some great friends in the industry.

Why did you choose this career?

From the age of 15 I have run my own Instagram account where I share content of my horse and I. Throughout the past 5 years my account has grown to over 18,000 followers and has allowed me to collaborate and work with some leading brands in the equestrian.

This is where my love for all things media, marketing and content creation has stemmed from. I have my own horses and have previously worked in hands on roles at riding schools and showjumping yards, combining my existing love for horses, media and marketing I decided that the right career for me would be within the racing industry. The media is a huge part of the racing industry, and I would love to develop a career from my passion within it.

How did you start out in the industry?

I spent most of my time in the saddle from a very young age, I always knew I wanted my career to have a big involvement with the equine industry.

I attended pony club, achieved a Level 3 Extended Technical Diploma in Equine Management and I am now studying further at ARU Writtle towards my degree. Discovering the variety of job roles within the racing industry has been a huge eye opener for me. I am so grateful that I am now exploring racing further with my internship and getting involved with the Youth Collaboration Group. It is lovely to know that I am building a network of great people around me, this industry already feels like home.

What is the best part of your job?

I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Chelmsford the best part of the internship is the variety in the tasks which I can take on. I feel as though I am learning some amazing things each day, whether that be with the marketing team, racing team or stable team. The people I have met along the way have made this experience better than I could ever imagine. The support in this industry is like no other and I am grateful for everyone’s kindness.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Being relatively new to the sport of horse racing, it felt overwhelming at first as I thought I needed to know everything about the industry. I felt as though I may not fit in due to my lack of racing knowledge. I had only been to the races a handful of times and watched the odd race on TV, so I didn’t really understand the way things work. But after only two months here I’m full of information and I know there is always lots to learn in this forever evolving sport. Luckily, the whole team here are incredibly supportive and would happily sit and chat to me about racing for hours (especially Neil). Every day I feel my love for this industry growing both as a career and as a genuine interest.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in your sector/industry?

I feel as though this piece of advice really can benefit anyone no matter what their career path. As Nike says, “Just Do It”. It’s one day, or day one. There really is nothing better than jumping into something if you really want it. I would never be where I am if I didn’t approach Neil myself. Sometimes opportunities don’t just come to you, you must go and chase them in order to chase your dreams.

And as for this industry in particular, the more experience you can get, the better. Before my internship began, I would google things about racing, read the Racing Post and try to broaden my knowledge. There is nothing better than getting out there and giving everything a go, the people you meet when you put yourself out there is amazing.