'We need to plan it better' - Struthers promises more on Rainbow Laces campaign

Paul Struthers predicted that racing's response to the Rainbow Laces campaign will be "bigger and better" next year.

The Jockeys Association chief executive was at Sandown last Saturday, where for the first time riders wore multi-coloured armbands as part of a nationwide, cross-sport attempt to raise awareness of LGBT+ equality.

"It was the first time racing joined in with the Rainbow Laces campaign and I think the response was excellent but there are some things to learn and expand upon," Struthers said.

"It was all quite short notice but there was a lot of support for it and a lot of jockeys wore the armbands. I didn't witness any active pushback against it.

Paul Struthers: 'I think the response was excellent but there are some things to learn and expand upon'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"They didn't necessarily wear them in every race but that's not a reflection of a lack of support for the Rainbow Laces campaign. I'd liken it to other sports where far from every player in a team wears them."

Struthers also pointed out a practical issue and said: "As a general rule jockeys aren't comfortable wearing any type of armband – when they wear black armbands after someone has passed away, they actually wear tights knotted around their arm because they are stationary and don't slip down, which is always a problem we have with any sort of armband."

Looking ahead to 2021, he said: "The support was encouraging but we need to plan it better next year and maybe go back to looking at one of the ideas that was in David Letts's original research recommendations, looking at other ways we can get behind the campaign.

Racing's job is to convince those who are scared they can be themselves

"His recommendation was focused around number cloths – if we could do something like that as well as jockeys wearing armbands it would really strengthen it."

Struthers added: "Like all these things, you do them for the first time, you learn and the following year you come back and do it bigger and better. I've got no doubt that's what will happen."

Rose Grissell, racing's head of diversity and inclusion, said: "We were really pleased for British racing to be able to join the nationwide Rainbow Laces campaign, which has been growing year-on-year since its inception five years ago.

"We would like to thank everyone who got involved and supported the day, including jockeys riding at Sandown, Aintree and Wolverhampton.

"In particular, it was great to receive feedback from people across the industry saying how much they appreciated the sport stepping up in this way. This was the first year racing has been involved in the campaign and an important first step."

Grissell added: "We plan to continue to work together with Great British Racing to build on the campaign and ensure everyone knows they can be themselves and feel welcome in British racing."

More to read:

Rishi Persad: 'racing is behind the times' on racial diversity and equality

Rishi Persad intervention leads to racing leaders making pledge on diversity

Diversity group: racing must work together to make everyone feel welcome

BHA chair on why diversity needs to be at the heart of racing's recovery plan

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