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In April 2006, the Horseracing Regulatory Authority assumed many of the Jockey Club’s historic responsibilities. The HRA’s highest profile on the racecourse is to enforce the rules of racing, but a senior trainer in the industry believes they need to do more to ensure that stable employees are being treated fairly.

A report commissioned by racing’s governing body, the British Horseracing Board, in 2004 showed that although 88% of stable staff found their yard to be a good place to work, serious concerns were raised over pay, hours, pensions, housing and bullying. The BHB’s Steering Group is charged with pushing forward the recommendations in the report.

Trampling on people’s dreams?

Racing broadcaster and journalist Brough Scott is a member of the group which is frustrated at the pace of change: “The pluses of stable work hugely exceed the minuses, but it doesn’t mean one should accept the minuses. British racing and the way horses are looked after is very good in many ways, but you have to put structures in to make sure it’s being done properly.Ìý You can’t allow woolly things like saying ‘I can’t afford to pay them'.Ìý That's trampling on people’s dreams.â€�

Only 15 or 20 trainers are making a sensible living

Rupert Arnold heads the National Trainers Federation who set annual minimum rates of pay in an annual agreement with the recognised union, the Stable Lads Association. The NTF says many are paid above the base level, which broadly equates to the national minimum wage. But Arnold warns that trainers are under financial pressure too: “There are 570 licensed trainers in the country and we reckon there are only 15 or 20 that are really making a sensible living. The business of every other one is pretty marginal.�

A former stable lad spoke to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Suffolk as part of an investigation into the pressures on stable staff. He revealed that he’d been earning £200 per week out of which he had to pay £80 for fairly basic accommodation. He also claimed he’d been given just £12 ‘cash in hand’ for 18 hours working away at a racecourse.

Current minimum rates of pay and overtime should outlaw this kind of practice but one trainer told the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ he wants the new regulatory body to beef up their inspections carried out on training yards to ensure staff are being paid properly. He believes inadequate checks could allow some to flout the rules.

Baroness Mallalieu heads the British Horseracing Board‘s Steering Group: “There are undoubtedly trainers who are struggling but the reality is that if you can’t pay your staff a proper wage and you can’t provide them with proper working conditions, you shouldn’t be in business.�

HRA statement

“This is a matter we take very seriously indeed. There are clear terms and conditions of service for people who work in stables in Instruction A6 of the rules of racing. Trainers, like everyone else, are required to pay appropriate rates of pay by law.
As part of stable inspections we do look at wage records as a matter of course and check that rates of pay and overtime meet the requirements laid out in Instruction A6. Indeed, three trainers are currently being investigated after inspections showed that they were not meeting these requirements.�