An initiative striving to improve inclusivity in racing has reached more young people from diverse ethnic communities than ever before.
The Riding A Dream Academy has reached many milestones over the past year, including record participation and graduates flourishing in the industry.
Between 2024 and 2025 the Academy has worked with more than 400 students, almost double the 210 participants in 2023-24 and up from just 27 in its first year of 2021-22. Of these students, 80% came from a diverse ethnic background – an increase on the 71% last year.
The Academy has continued to deliver its flagship programme, the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship with the support of The Racing Foundation and Goodwood Racecourse, with 65% of Scholarship students since 2021 now either working in racing, having applied for or completed the Foundation Course or taken part in work experience in the sport.
Amongst the notable graduates are Sienna Anderson (pictured above with Aamilah), the second Academy rider to compete in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood, finishing second for trainer Charlie Fellowes; Uwitonze Wenham Beckford, who became the first Academy student to be shortlisted for the Godolphin Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Newcomer category; and Aamilah Aswat, last year’s Magnolia Cup rider, who is being supported to pursue a Conditional Jockey’s Licence.
The Academy also launched a partnership with Ascot Racecourse, involving 50 students from five schools in Slough to provide riding-based taster days on course and the chance for students to find out more about the sport at the track. In June this year, more than 150 students from the same schools took part in jockey-fitness and equiciser sessions thanks to support from the Shanly Foundation and the Englefield Charitable Trust.
“This year has been transformational — working with over 400 young people, launching the Ascot Taster Day programme, and seeing more and more of our students progressing in the sport,” said Naomi Lawson, Director of the Riding A Dream Academy.
“The impact of the Academy on the industry has been tangible with applications to the British Racing School Foundation Course from young people from ethnic minority now reaching 12% of all applications in 2024-25. We are proud of the impact we have had in opening doors for young people into the sport and extremely grateful to the Racing Foundation and all our funders for supporting our work.”
Applications are now open for Riding A Dream’s Residential Week (16-20 February). Find out more here.
Lead image of Aamilah Aswat. Credit: Alice Gough
