How could you not support celebrating the thoroughbred if you love horseracing?

It was at the McCoy Awards at Cheltenham in 2019 that I said to Racing Post editor Tom Kerr: “I’ve got an idea.” At that point, I thought that as there was a national day for most things in the world, why was there not a National Racehorse Day?  

“Why don’t you write an article about it?” came Tom’s reply. As we celebrate the fifth year of National Racehorse Week, it proves at least one thing: the power of the press.

Once I'd written an article about my plan based around celebrating the racehorse, the industry was immediately supportive and the BHA organised a workshop at Newbury racecourse to bring the sport's various stakeholders together to put the idea into practice.  

As many of us in racing know, it is hard to get the sport’s various factions to agree on much but, in all honesty, how could you not support celebrating the thoroughbred if you love horseracing?

Thanks to the hard work of many, especially the National Trainers Federation and Great British Racing, and funding from, among others, the Racing Foundation, the Levy Board, Godolphin and the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust (how much would Sir Peter love this idea?), the idea got off the ground in September 2021.

• Watch: a celebration of the sport's biggest stars on an extra-special episode of The Front Page

Galvanised by some negative social media towards the sport in general and trainers in particular, the training profession throughout Britain was inspired to open its doors to prove that racehorses have the life that humans should have. How many of us enjoy private healthcare, private dentistry, spa treatments, physios, access to a swimming pool, a balanced diet and exercise programme with 24-hour supervision? 

Our first opening at Adlestrop Stables was on Sunday, September 12 that year, when we welcomed more than 100 visitors, plus many of our owners, to see the life of a racehorse close up. We even had a ‘blessing of the racehorse’ in an attempt to re-enact Horseman’s Sunday, which took place in Epsom for many years and was part of my childhood. 

No-one knows more than I do how busy a trainer’s life is, but there are benefits to opening your doors. Mya was 14 when her parents brought her to our open day in 2022. She had ridden horses at a local riding school and her mother approached me on the day to ask if there were any weekend jobs available for her daughter. I told her to give me a call, which she did, and I’m pleased to say Mya has worked almost every weekend since at the yard, including some school holidays, and is now a student at Hartpury College hoping to develop an equine career. 

Richard Phillips is pleased retraining centres and other equine businesses are an integral part of National Racehorse WeekCredit: Debbie Burt/Tattersalls

Interestingly, her mother told me not so long ago that before Mya had visited our yard she was not keen on horseracing and thought there were welfare issues for the horses. Five years later, her excellent work ethic is proof horses receive care from dawn to dusk.  

I have also heard heartwarming stories from other trainers about how they are acquiring new owners through the experience. However, National Racehorse Week is not all about trainers opening their doors, and I’m pleased to say that many retraining centres have done so as well, and also many studs throughout Britain.

The time of year is hardly ideal for many thoroughbred studs, but opening your doors is only one way of celebrating the thoroughbred. Thanks to social media, photographs and videos showing racehorses in a positive light can be only a good development for the industry, and there really isn’t an excuse not to join in in some way during the week to make a positive contribution.  

I have been thrilled to see so many community events throughout Britain take place thanks to National Racehorse Week, including visits to schools and care homes. I was delighted to take one of our horses, Fighting Poet, to an after-school club in the centre of Birmingham last year – and so pleased when he won two days later.

 The smiles on the faces of young people who had probably never seen a horse, never mind touched one, will live in my memory for a long time. This year we'll be taking him to Leicester as guests of the African Caribbean Centre to introduce him to a new group of fans – a week after his latest victory at Brighton. He clearly loves his visits!

I am frustrated there are people within the industry who still think things like this are someone else’s job. Unfortunately, some in our sport do not see the bigger picture – social licence is vital and will become an even bigger issue in years to come.  

Having taken place in the second week of September for the first four years, it was decided that moving the date of National Racehorse Week to the end of the school holidays might give it a fresh look. Research in other sports has proved that it is between the ages of eight and 15 that you develop your passions in life. The more young people we can introduce to the horse and the sport at this age, the stronger our industry will be.  

Fighting Poet: seems to run well when a visit somewhere is in the offingCredit: Richard Phillips Racing

My love of racing began as a six-year-old when walking the two miles from my home to Epsom Downs to watch the runners go down to the mile-and-a-half start for the Moet & Chandon Silver Magnum – the Amateurs' Derby. Giants of the sport, both human and equine, were only feet away as the likes of John Oaksey, Dermot Weld and Luca Cumani would ride in the race from year to year, while some four-legged legends – none greater than the much loved Sea Pigeon – were among the runners.

I immediately fell in love with the sport. While I'm not saying all young people will, give them the opportunity and you never know. God forbid, there may be more young Phillipses out there, ready to devote their lives to racing.

So, thank you Racing Post for allowing me to get the ball rolling, and long may we celebrate the racehorse. Remember, your sport needs you.

Read more . . .

'The one thing we have over any other sport is that beautiful four-legged creature' - how National Racehorse Week shows racing at its best 

WATCH: A celebration of the sport's biggest stars on an extra-special episode of The Front Page 

In pictures: crowds gather in the Epsom sun to celebrate National Racehorse week 

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