London teenager graduates from racing school

A 16-year-old rider from Brixton has graduated from the prestigious British Racing School in Newmarket

After attending a residential week at the Riding A Dream Academy in 2021, 16-year-old Jesse from Brixton spent 12 weeks at the British Racing School, attending its foundation course and becoming the third student to graduate from the school and head straight into work in the racing industry.

Jesse was one of 10 students who attended the Riding a Dream Academy’s first residential week in August 2021. The Academy is aimed at supporting 14–18-year-olds from diverse communities, inner cities and urban equestrian centres who want to work in British horse racing. Having started at the Academy, where he rode ponies and learnt the jockey seat. From there, he went on to the British Racing School whose foundation course is designed to prepare young people for work in the horse racing world as stable staff working with and riding racehorses every day.

Jesse said: “I absolutely loved my time at the British Racing School and was sad to be leaving. When I am on the straight gallop, I’ve had no feeling like it – just the adrenaline going.”

His hope for the future is to enter an apprenticeship as a work rider before eventually achieving his licence to become a flat jockey.

The Riding A Dream Academy was co-founded by Khadijah Mellah, who was the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race, and it is currently accepting applications for its next residential week. This will take place at the British Racing School in Newmarket from Monday, 29 May until Friday, 2 June 2023. It is free to attend and open to 14–18-year-olds.

Applications are also open for the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship, now in its third year. Applicants are invited to head to the website and apply by Monday, 20 March 2023.

Find out more at ridingadreamacademy.com