Ed Chamberlin, ITV Racing host

One thing Great Britain does particularly well is festivals. Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and York remain the envy of the racing world. They are all special but there is something extra special about the Cheltenham Festival. No sport has a better crescendo to a season as all jump racing roads lead to Prestbury Park in March.

Everyone in the sport – owners, trainers, grooms and jockeys – want to win there more than anywhere else. Britain v Ireland. The Guinness Village. Tweed mixing with trackies. All in the best amphitheatre in sport, wrapped in the arms of Cleeve Hill. There’s nothing else like it. Yet somehow Cheltenham is the festival currently under the most pressure and scrutiny.

None of that pressure comes from ITV as the last couple of years have seen record numbers watching at home and sports fans continue to love those four days in March. However, racing fans feared it was losing its competitive edge with too many options for horses. Cheltenham have listened and tinkered with the programme to try and funnel the best horses into the best races.

Cost is a constant complaint. Crowd numbers were down last year. Again, Cheltenham has listened. Better value options are available alongside efforts to make accommodation cheaper and travel easier. The racegoer experience needed to improve and let’s hope these measures work.

I wrote last year that Cheltenham had alarming similarities to Manchester United, where the Glazers sat back and let the money roll in but took their eye off the product. United and INEOS now face a long period playing catch up, on and off the pitch. Cheltenham deserve credit for acting quickly. My wish for 2025 is for a sold out, spectacular Cheltenham Festival, on and off the track.

 

Grace Muir, founder and CEO of charity HEROS

I could write a book about my wishes for racing in 2025! I started to think about what would make the most difference to the thoroughbred horses, who are the heart of the racing industry, and about what might make the most difference to them. Why? Because the sport would end without the horses, and because we know that all horses bred for racing will always be an industry responsibility.

Of course, I also fear that some in the non-racing world see our sport as wasteful and uncaring. And when I know and see daily that so many vulnerable and unwanted horses need help when their racing days are over, I sometimes find it hard to disagree. Our future, like that of the horses, sits on a precipice.

So, my most heartfelt wish for the New Year is for the sport to pull together in a united quest to deliver a sustainable and secure aftercare provision for all horses bred for the sport, from breeders to racegoers, trainers, jockeys, employees, and the owners who enjoy the sport as part of their daily lives. Because the need is enormous. I know that we need a sustainable, financially secure safety net for those horses, better knowledge and support for the people who take them on, and robust systems in place to deliver effective aftercare.

My wish for 2025 is that we all pull together and make it happen so these wonderful animals, who give us all so much, have access to a well-deserved, protected and sustainable future. Let’s stop talking and be responsible before it’s too late.

 

Stephen Appelbee, ROA Board member and owner

This is an easy question to answer and what I am about to say would be echoed by racehorse owners up and down the country – we want higher levels of prize-money!

I have been a racehorse owner for 34 years, starting in clubs and syndicates, and since 1999 in partnerships and in my own right. In that time, I have had the pleasure of speaking to many owners, particularly since I was elected to the ROA Board last year by my fellow members. As I said at that time, my most successful horse jumped to nine victories in 45 races in an eight-year career yet didn’t come close to paying his way. Placed horses should, at a minimum, cover their costs.

A couple of months ago I was flicking through the racecard at a meeting when the name of the race rang a bell. When I got home, I found out that my horse had won that race 20 years ago and earned roughly the same amount of money! In a recent edition of the Racing Post Weekender, I found that I was not alone when leading trainer Alan King reported that his horse had won a race which he had also won 16 years previously for 12% more prize-money than the latest renewal!

Owners are the only large group in racing that invests its own money into the sport we love – and we want and deserve more back.

 

Sarah Guest, assistant trainer to John O’Shea and 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Employee of the Year

The horseracing industry relies heavily on a dedicated workforce who, despite long hours and not the highest of pay, remain committed to both the horses and the sport itself. However, the growth opportunities and developmental support offered to racing employees often falls short, potentially limiting their career potential. It’s time to address this issue and implement changes to ensure a brighter future for those who contribute to our beloved sport.

If I could wave a magic wand, my Christmas wish for racing would be to boost prize-money for owners and control the weather! But my true focus is on the unsung heroes of the sport: stable staff. I dream of a future where training is more accessible, offering opportunities for personal development and upskilling, especially for those in rural areas. For someone like myself who lives in a rural location and has to travel four hours to get to the British Racing School or the National Horseracing College, it can be a challenge.

Imagine if further education colleges and equine institutions could collaborate with racing bodies to provide additional training courses in more remote locations. This would empower stable staff to hone their skills, stay in the industry longer, and contribute even more to the sport we love. Online learning is a great start, but nothing beats hands-on experience.

By investing in our people and expanding their horizons, we can create a brighter future for racing, where everyone has a chance to thrive within our industry.

Beyond the track, I want to shine a spotlight on the diverse range of careers available in racing – there are countless opportunities for individuals with various skills and interests. Our challenge in 2025 is to open up the world of racing careers so that through local development and upskilling we create opportunities for the existing staff and attract a new diverse workforce who can see a long-term career in the sport.