The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing.
Authors: Davies Emma, McConn-Palfreyman Will, Williams Jane M, Lovell Geoff P
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary When the UK horseracing industry halted operations in March 2020, little insight existed into how this disruption affected the workforce managing horses daily. Davies and colleagues surveyed 287 racing professionals using online questionnaires, applying chi-squared testing and binary logistic regression to explore working conditions during the initial lockdown phases. Over half the workforce (53.7%) continued working throughout the shutdown, and encouragingly, 87.8% of those in post reported that employers' pandemic-specific workplace adaptations—such as modified protocols and safety measures—were effective in practice; however, flat racing grooms were significantly more sceptical of these changes' utility. Job security emerged as a concern, with only 67.2% expressing confidence in their positions, and notably, trainers and grooms were substantially less optimistic than other roles. These findings underscore an important reality for equine professionals: whilst employers generally implemented credible health measures, the differential impact on certain staff categories—particularly those in hands-on roles—suggests that targeted support structures addressing employment stability remain essential to prevent workforce turnover that could ultimately compromise horse care and welfare standards.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Employer communication and implementation of pandemic safety protocols were well-received by most horseracing staff, suggesting clear workplace guidelines support worker confidence and compliance
- •Job security concerns were notably higher among trainers and grooms—these roles may require targeted support programs to maintain workforce stability and continuity of horse care
- •Flat grooms reported safety measures as less effective; their specific working conditions and concerns should be reviewed to ensure appropriate protective measures are in place
Key Findings
- •53.7% of horseracing staff continued working during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020
- •87.8% of working staff reported pandemic-specific workplace changes as effective for health and safety
- •67.2% of staff reported positive job security outlook, though trainers and grooms were significantly less optimistic
- •Flat grooms reported workplace safety measures as significantly less effective than other staff roles