WATCH: WORCESTER RACECOURSE HOSTS SCHOOLING TRIALS DAY

In 2025, British racing introduced schooling trials days to support the training and preparation of horses for racing under rules.

The initiative, organised by the sport's Horse Welfare Board with funding from the Racing Foundation, has continued into 2026 and the response from racing professionals has been glowing. A total of 225 horses took part in trials during the first phase of the initiative, a figure that has risen to over 700 as the pilot has continued into phase two. The events have taken place across a range of racecourses and point-to-point venues and typically feature six to eight sessions per day.

These sessions, which are not competitive races and do not feature as part of a horse’s race record, are intended to simulate the conditions a horse will encounter on a real raceday but without the pressures associated with those fixtures.

Horses are not required to jump every obstacle or complete the course, with each session run at a slower pace than a competitive race. Leading trainers such as Lucinda Russell, Harry Derham, and Olly Murphy have all embraced the concept and spoken of their value to British racing.

In the video, a well-attended day at Worcester racecourse demonstrates how different yards are using schooling trials and why trainers and jockeys believe they are beneficial to the preparation of their horses. 143 horses took part on the day, which was the first of three days at the Worcester course, spread across three weeks, supporting a total of 396 horses.

The schooling trials pilot will continue to roll-out in 2026. Anyone interested in attending a day can email schooling@racehorsewelfare.co.uk for more information.

Improving safety and minimising risk on the racecourse is just one of many focus areas by British racing’s Horse Welfare Board. The sport’s goal has always been to lead the way in setting the best welfare standards in the world, both on and off the racecourse. For more information on progress as a result of British racing’s equine welfare strategy Click Here.