What Racing Foundation does

The Racing Foundation is a registered charitable foundation (Charity Commission no. 1145297; Company Registration No. 07890908) established in 2012 to administer the endowment derived from the UK government's sale of the Tote. It operates exclusively as a grant-making vehicle for charitable causes within the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industries, structured around three strategic pillars: Racing's People (workforce welfare, training, diversity and inclusion), Equine Welfare (aftercare, safety, traceability, retirement), and ESG (environmental sustainability, community engagement, governance). The Foundation runs three core grant programmes — Small Grants (up to £30,000), Open Grants (£30,000+), and Equine Science Research Grants (administered jointly with the Horserace Betting Levy Board) — through three annual funding rounds, supported by an annual Horseracing Industry Conference, workforce surveys commissioned via BHA's Industry People Team, and educational initiatives including the Racing Media Academy, Autism-Friendly Race Days, and National Racehorse Week. Governance is provided by a Board of nine trustees under joint oversight from three Members: the British Horseracing Authority, the Thoroughbred Group, and the Racecourse Association. As of January 2026, cumulative grants awarded exceeded £40 million (now £44.9 million total), and the Foundation has committed over £4 million under its 2025-2027 strategy. The organisation is headquartered in London with 1-10 employees and does not operate commercial revenue streams; all charitable expenditure is funded by investment returns on the original Tote endowment.

Name

Racing Foundation

Legal name

The Racing Foundation

Website

https://racingfoundation.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Racing Foundation is a UK registered charity established in 2012 from the Tote sale proceeds, providing grants to charitable causes across the British horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industries through three annual funding rounds spanning workforce welfare, equine welfare, and ESG initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Endowment Investment Returns: The Racing Foundation was established in 2012 with an endowment from the net proceeds of the UK government's sale of the Tote. The Foundation invests funds to generate investment income and uses the income to make grants to charitable projects. Annual grant-making budget is linked to financial returns on investments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Racing Foundation is a UK registered charitable foundation (no. 1145297) that distributes grants to charitable projects benefiting the British horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industries. It operates three core grant programmes (Small Grants up to £30,000, Open Grants of £30,000+, and Equine Science Research Grants administered in partnership with HBLB), supports the annual Horseracing Industry Conference, commissions workforce research, and funds community initiatives such as the Racing Media Academy, Autism-Friendly Race Days, and National Racehorse Week.

Product overview

Racing Foundation is a charitable grant-making foundation (registered charity no. 1145297) established in 2012 from the sale of the Tote. The Foundation operates three core grant programmes: Small Grants (up to £30,000), Open Grants (£30,000+), and Equine Science Research Grants (in partnership with HBLB). These grant programmes support three strategic pillars: Racing's People (workforce welfare, training, diversity), Equine Welfare (aftercare, safety, traceability), and ESG (environmental sustainability, community engagement). The Foundation also delivers the annual Horseracing Industry Conference, commissions workforce surveys through the BHA, and supports educational initiatives including the Racing Media Academy, Autism-Friendly Race Days, and National Racehorse Week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants Programme (Open Grants) Open grant funding programme for charitable projects benefiting the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industries, with grants of £30,000 and above. Three funding rounds per year with structured application process.
• Small Grants Programme Small grant funding up to £30,000 for charitable projects supporting the horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industries. Three funding rounds per year.
• Equine Science Research Grants Specialised grant programme for equine science research with practical benefits to Thoroughbred horseracing, administered in partnership with the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) with one annual funding round.
• Horseracing Industry Conference
• Workforce Surveys
• Racing Media Academy Education programme developing the next generation of racing storytellers, broadcasters, journalists and content creators through specialist training and industry placements, supported since inception in 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• £44.9 million in total grants awarded since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• British Horseracing Authority (BHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHA is one of three joint Members of the Racing Foundation (alongside Thoroughbred Group and Racecourse Association). The Foundation works with BHA on industry strategies including workforce development, environmental sustainability, and diversity initiatives. BHA's Industry People Team commissions workforce surveys funded by the Foundation.
• Thoroughbred GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the three joint Members of the Racing Foundation. Represents thoroughbred breeding industry interests.
• Racecourse AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the three joint Members of the Racing Foundation. Represents racecourse interests in the industry.
• Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to administer and assess Equine Science Research Grant applications. The Racing Foundation contributes £200,000 to HBLB's 2026 Equine Veterinary Science and Education Programme. HBLB's Veterinary Advisory Committee evaluates applications.
• GodolphinmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Racing Media Academy alongside Spotlight Sports Group, Joules, and media partners. Supports initiatives for diversity and accessibility in racing.
• Spotlight Sports GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Racing Media Academy alongside Godolphin, Joules, and media partners.
• JoulesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Racing Media Academy alongside other partners.
• The John Pearce FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funding partner for RoR's £321,000 project 'Improving the Framework to Support Horses' First Step Out of Training'. Both foundations co-funded this equine welfare initiative.
• HEROS CharitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the £321,000 RoR project for improving support for horses transitioning out of training. Delivers the Retraining Assessment Programme (RAP) scheme.
• Autism in RacingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutism-friendly race day initiative supported by the Racing Foundation since its inception, with additional support from Racing Post and Godolphin.
• Racing WelfarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry charity supported by the Foundation for workforce welfare including mental health support. Joint work on industry workforce surveys.
• Pony Racing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner5-year grant support for Pathway Into Racing Through Pony Racing programme to develop accessibility and diversity with focus on young people with no racing background.
• Hartpury UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Horse Welfare Board on the first Thoroughbred Census to improve traceability of retired racehorses.
• Project Horizon PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability initiative funded by Racing Foundation to measure and understand British racing's environmental impact. The BHA's environmental strategy 'Racing Resilient' was developed with Racing Foundation support.
• Horse Welfare BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation works with the Horse Welfare Board on the 'A Life Well Lived' strategy and delivery of welfare projects. Granted £3m to fund Horse Welfare Board strategy projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Garfield Weston Foundation: Major UK grantmaking foundation supporting a wide range of charitable causes including sport, welfare, and education. Broad incumbent in UK charitable grantmaking, often a co-funder or peer reference point for specialist foundations.
• Sport England: National body distributing public and Lottery funds across UK sport. Broad incumbent in sport-sector grantmaking, providing an alternative funding source that the Racing Foundation must coordinate with rather than compete against.
• The Football Foundation: Large UK sport-specific charitable foundation funding football infrastructure and community programmes. Broad incumbent demonstrating the sport-foundation operating model the Racing Foundation follows at smaller scale.

Direct peers

• The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust: UK racing-focused charitable trust supporting equine welfare and racing people causes. Direct peer in scope and beneficiary base to the Racing Foundation.
• The Injured Jockeys Fund: UK charity dedicated to the welfare of injured jockeys and former riders, with overlapping trustee representation on the Racing Foundation board. Direct peer in mission to support racing's workforce.
• Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB): HBLB is a statutory body that raises and distributes funds for the horseracing industry, including the equine veterinary science research programme the Racing Foundation co-funds. Direct peer as another UK racing-specific funding body with overlapping grantmaking functions and shared beneficiaries.
• The Childwick Trust: UK racing-related charitable trust with overlapping beneficiary focus on equine welfare and racing people. Direct peer in scope and approach.
• The John Pearce Foundation: UK racing-focused charitable foundation and co-funder of the £321k RoR retraining project. Direct peer in mission and grantmaking activities alongside the Racing Foundation.
• The Alborada Trust: UK racing charity supporting equine welfare and related causes. Direct peer in mission and beneficiary overlap with the Racing Foundation's equine welfare pillar.

Regional players

• Thoroughbred Charities of America: US-based umbrella organisation supporting Thoroughbred industry charities via grants and capacity building. Regional player with parallel mission to the Racing Foundation but operating in North America rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/racinggrants
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNIxqHvItZANjt_L9k-cE5A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/racinggrants
• Instagraminstagram.com/racinggrants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Racing Foundation