The second most popular spectator sport in the UK, horseracing is also one of the most established, with iconic racing events regarded as key dates in the international sporting calendar.

Generating over £3.7 billion every year, British horseracing is an integral part of the wider sports industry, presenting a wide variety of career opportunities across a range of sectors including media, marketing, events and business.

To find out more about the industry, UCFB students visited Kempton Park Racecourse on Monday where they were given an exclusive tour of the racecourse and enjoyed a range of insightful presentations and talks from industry experts including Zoe Elliott, Head of Careers Marketing & Recruitment at the British Horseracing Authority.

Recent UCFB graduate Cameron Brown was also on hand to share his experiences of working in the industry as On Course Bookmaker at StarSports.

We caught up with Cameron and some of the students to hear about the trip and the latest developments in British horse racing…

Cameron Brown, UCFB graduate and On Course Bookmaker at Star Sports: “From recently becoming a UCFB graduate to building the foundations for an exciting career in the horseracing industry, the last few months for myself have been a whirlwind, to say the least. When I was asked by the team at the British Horseracing Authority and Careers in Racing to share my experiences with current students, I couldn’t say no. My role at the Kempton Park event was to give the students insight on the Graduate Development Programme on offer, having partaken in it myself this year, and the career paths I have taken since.

"Thanks to the programme I have worked in all areas of the bookmaking industry with Star Sports and have since gone on to become an on-course bookmaker as well as a Stud Hand at Tweenhills Farm & Stud. Working in the racing industry is incredible and there are so many options and career paths to fall into. The industry is constantly calling out for new talent and the students at UCFB would be a fantastic asset in a thriving industry.

"The event included some fantastic insights and I would encourage all students to come along if they have the chance in the future. Seeing the students take a keen interest in what I had done, and their interest in what the other speakers were sharing with them, was a highlight. Hopefully, they will join us working within the best sport in the world.”

Evie-Belle Chandler, BA (Hons) Sports Business & Sports Law student at UCFB Wembley: “Kempton Park was a really valuable and insightful trip. It opened my eyes to a whole world of opportunities available in horseracing. I was completely unaware that horseracing is the second most popular spectator sport in the UK behind football. I will definitely be considering a career within horseracing. I really enjoyed hearing about the different roles and responsibilities that come together to ensure huge events such as the Grand National go on without a hitch.”

Liam Fuller, BA (Hons) Stadium & Events Management student at UCFB Wembley: "As a racing fan, it was interesting and inspiring to visit Kempton and learn about the details of the industry. The experience of the tour visiting the jockey’s weighing room and steward’s booth gave a real insight into the day-to-day operations of a racecourse. I was intrigued by the speeches concerning how the sport is growing and the marketing efforts towards it. Listening to the speakers and various employees we met really opened my eyes to the wide range of career paths I could take in the horseracing industry."

Luke Dick BA (Hons) Stadium & Events Management student at UCFB Wembley: “We were greeted by Adam from the British Horseracing Authority and he gave the group an exclusive tour of the racecourse, including the weighing rooms, the jockey’s changing rooms, and the parade ring. He gave us a real insight into the operations on a race day.

"Zoe Elliott then spoke to us about the opportunities there are in the horseracing industry and the Careers in Racing programme that is open to postgraduates.

"The talk from Cameron, a graduate from UCFB who now works in the horseracing industry, was really insightful. He shared his experiences after graduating, and how he has developed in his role in British horseracing.

"After the afternoon sessions, we were also able to enjoy the races in the evening, under the floodlights.”