The UK’s 59 Racecourses receive 5 million visits every year, from people who love the spectacle and excitement of a race day. From the Managers who run the courses, to the Chefs who provide the food, and the Groundstaff who keep the track in perfect condition, there are a range of interesting roles to take on. Click on a job title to find out more, for links to racecourses visit Useful Contacts pages.

Racecourse Manager
Racecourse Accredited Employees
Groundstaff
Administrative Staff
Maintenance Staff
Racecourse Safety Officer
Catering Staff

Racecourse Manager

The Job: Managing every aspect of a thriving racecourse is challenging, exhilarating and very varied. On race day you’ll be in overall charge, as you deal with everyone from racegoers, owners and the Press to Bookmakers, Caterers and Jockeys. Then there’ll be all the work behind the scenes as you produce successful marketing and business plans to ensure the business thrives in the competitive leisure market. You’ll also oversee health, safety and maintenance, deal with accounts and capital projects and lead a big team of hugely diverse staff.

The Person: You’ll need the intellect, charisma and organisational ability to run and drive forward a complex, varied business.

Entry Requirements: Many Racecourse Managers have degrees. All have management experience.

The Benefits: Competitive salary and the chance to enjoy lots of racing.

Find out more: There are 59 racecourses, so management positions are rare. You can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or you can get the details from The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Racecourse Accredited Employees

The Job: The 59 racecourses in the UK take a lot of upkeep. Organising a meeting with thousands of spectators, hundreds of horses and an entourage of owners, Jockeys and Trainers is a real logistical challenge. These roles help ensure everything runs smoothly. There are three categories in which you can be accredited: Conduct of Racing, Racecourse Husbandry and Safety and Race Planning. Duties include preparing for the raceday, planning timings, ensuring Stewards, Doctors, Farriers and Paramedics are all in attendance and making sure the stables and parade ring are all in order. Preparation and maintenance of the track is also a very important duty, from building fences to creating the perfect racing surface.

The Person: You should like working outdoors, be very organised and work to high standards.

Entry Requirements: Many of the people in these roles are graduates in Land Management, Turf Husbandry, or Business Studies. A farming or racing background is also common. You need to be accredited to take on one of these roles. An individual racecourse will often sponsor you to do your accreditation.

The Benefits: An outdoor lifestyle. Salary dependent on job role.

Find out more: Click here to find out more about the accreditation training. You can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Groundstaff

The Job: Depending on its size, a racecourse can have a Ground Team of between two and thirty people. Working in all weathers – and, when a big meeting is coming up, at unsociable hours - you’ll ensure the track and all its rails and fences are in superb condition. You’ll take real pride in your work, knowing that without your input, the races wouldn’t be possible.

The Person: You’ll need to enjoy being outdoors, be eager to learn, hard-working and fit. You should also have a real perfectionist streak.

Entry Requirements: No formal qualifications are necessary, but a knowledge of turf maintenance, soil cultivation and appropriate machinery is an advantage.

The Benefits: Head Groundsmen are often given accommodation at the racecourse.

Find out more: Click here to find out about training courses. You can also apply directly to the racecourses to start a career in groundsmanship. In addition, you can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Administrative Staff

The Job: From general admin to marketing and secretarial support, racecourses need talented administrators like you to keep things running smoothly.

The Person: As well as being highly organised, you also have a talent for communicating with everyone from owners to first-time racegoers. You love racing, and will be full of enthusiasm at being part of this exciting world.

Entry Requirements: A general knowledge of office procedures and good computer skills are essential. Some experience in marketing would also be useful.

The Benefits: Salary dependent on job role.

Find out more: It’s a great environment to work in, so turnover is low and openings scarce. You can find out about vacancies directly from the racecourses. You can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Maintenance Staff

The Job: A racecourse takes plenty of care to keep it in top condition. Carpenters, electricians and painters are all needed by racecourses – on a full-time basis at larger courses and on a contractual basis at smaller venues.

The Person: Efficient, hard-working and reliable.

Entry Requirements: Qualifications or experience in the particular maintenance area.

The Benefits: Competitive salary.

Find out more: You can find out about vacancies directly from the racecourses. You can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Racecourse Safety Officer

The Job: There can be thousands of people – often in very high spirits – at a race meeting. So each racecourse has to have a Security Officer to ensure that the Police, Security Team and Managing Executive are in control and in contact. You’ll also produce careful incident plans. They will enable you to do everything from making emergency public addresses to deploying personnel swiftly to trouble spots in the event of an incident.

The Person: Calm, cool, collected and authoritative. You also need to be able to plan strategically for an incident, as well as think quickly on your feet if trouble occurs.

Entry Requirements: A working knowledge of the safety of sports grounds and public order regulation is essential. An NVQ in Spectator Control Level 4 would be ideal.These roles are often filled by people who’ve been in the police or armed forces.

The Benefits: Competitive salary.

Find out more: You can find out about vacancies directly from the racecourses. You can find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.

5 Back to top

Catering Staff

The Job: From lavish receptions in private marquees to afternoon teas and everything in between, catering in the racing industry is big business. Which means Waiting staff and Chefs at all levels are always in demand.

The Person: Whatever type of role you join in, you’ll need to be very hardworking and efficient.

Entry Requirements: There are openings at all levels, from those with no experience to highly accomplished Head Chefs and Restaurant Managers.

The Benefits: Competitive salary based on job role.

Find out more: You can find out more about openings by writing direct to Racecourses. You’ll find a list of racecourses in ‘The Directory of the Turf’ or on The Racecourse Association website.  Alternatively, you can contact one of the large catering companies that have contracts with racecourses. You can visit the website for Sodhexo or find out about careers with Letheby and Christopher, via the Compass Group recruitment website

5 Back to top