WiR Resources

Menopause, Mid-Life and Wellbeing Report

February 25, 2026 | WiR Resources | 10.57 MB

Women in Racing, in partnership with FDJ United (Unibet), has published Racing Home: Menopause, Midlife and Well-being in British Horseracing.

Led by Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University, the independent research explores how perimenopause, menopause and midlife intersect with working life across British horseracing – and outlines practical steps to better support and retain experienced women within the sport.

Building on earlier Racing Home research into working motherhood, this study focuses on another pivotal life stage that often coincides with career progression, caring responsibilities and leadership roles. With women over 50 now the fastest-growing segment of the UK workforce, supporting midlife women is both a wellbeing priority and a strategic workforce issue.

The qualitative research included seven workshops, 19 in-depth interviews and contributions from 77 participants across training yards, studs, racecourses, welfare organisations, governance, media and betting.

Key findings highlight that racing’s vocational culture — long hours and physically demanding roles — can intensify menopause symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption and cognitive changes. Many women reported feeling pressure to “power through” in silence, with menopause sometimes becoming a quiet exit point from the industry.

The report sets out short, medium and long-term recommendations, including:

  • A core ‘Racing & Menopause 101’ education package
  • Integration of menopause awareness into licensing and CPD
  • Development of mentoring and Midlife/Menopause Champions
  • Clearer workplace guidance on policies and reasonable adjustments
  • Expanded resources via the Racing Home portal

By embedding menopause awareness within existing wellbeing frameworks, the industry has an opportunity to retain critical expertise and strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.

Download

Motherhood & Horseracing: A Guide

June 14, 2025 | WiR Resources | 12.48 MB

On behalf of the team at Racing Home and Women in Racing, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new handbook for both employees and employers in the sport of horseracing, focused on supporting new parents to remain within the industry.
 
Entitled “Motherhood and Horseracing: Before, During and After Pregnancy Considerations for Parents and Employers”, this guide contains information and resources designed to help those on the road to becoming parents, as well as those that employ others who may be pregnant, post-partum or considering parenthood. Both adoption and surrogacy are touched upon, as well as both the physical and mental health considerations that may be useful for everyone to be aware of.

Download

Women’s Representation and Diversity in British Horseracing

March 21, 2024 | WiR Resources | 958.34 KB

Women in Racing’s initial research piece which led to the creation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group. This was undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway in 2017.

Download
work life balance

Work-life balance and caring data report

August 8, 2023 | WiR Resources | 395.79 KB

Download

WiR Resources

Menopause, Mid-Life and Wellbeing Report

February 25, 2026 | WiR Resources | 10.57 MB

Women in Racing, in partnership with FDJ United (Unibet), has published Racing Home: Menopause, Midlife and Well-being in British Horseracing.

Led by Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University, the independent research explores how perimenopause, menopause and midlife intersect with working life across British horseracing – and outlines practical steps to better support and retain experienced women within the sport.

Building on earlier Racing Home research into working motherhood, this study focuses on another pivotal life stage that often coincides with career progression, caring responsibilities and leadership roles. With women over 50 now the fastest-growing segment of the UK workforce, supporting midlife women is both a wellbeing priority and a strategic workforce issue.

The qualitative research included seven workshops, 19 in-depth interviews and contributions from 77 participants across training yards, studs, racecourses, welfare organisations, governance, media and betting.

Key findings highlight that racing’s vocational culture — long hours and physically demanding roles — can intensify menopause symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption and cognitive changes. Many women reported feeling pressure to “power through” in silence, with menopause sometimes becoming a quiet exit point from the industry.

The report sets out short, medium and long-term recommendations, including:

  • A core ‘Racing & Menopause 101’ education package
  • Integration of menopause awareness into licensing and CPD
  • Development of mentoring and Midlife/Menopause Champions
  • Clearer workplace guidance on policies and reasonable adjustments
  • Expanded resources via the Racing Home portal

By embedding menopause awareness within existing wellbeing frameworks, the industry has an opportunity to retain critical expertise and strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.

Download

Motherhood & Horseracing: A Guide

June 14, 2025 | WiR Resources | 12.48 MB

On behalf of the team at Racing Home and Women in Racing, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new handbook for both employees and employers in the sport of horseracing, focused on supporting new parents to remain within the industry.
 
Entitled “Motherhood and Horseracing: Before, During and After Pregnancy Considerations for Parents and Employers”, this guide contains information and resources designed to help those on the road to becoming parents, as well as those that employ others who may be pregnant, post-partum or considering parenthood. Both adoption and surrogacy are touched upon, as well as both the physical and mental health considerations that may be useful for everyone to be aware of.

Download

Women’s Representation and Diversity in British Horseracing

March 21, 2024 | WiR Resources | 958.34 KB

Women in Racing’s initial research piece which led to the creation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group. This was undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway in 2017.

Download
work life balance

Work-life balance and caring data report

August 8, 2023 | WiR Resources | 395.79 KB

Download

WiR Resources

Menopause, Mid-Life and Wellbeing Report

February 25, 2026 | WiR Resources | 10.57 MB

Women in Racing, in partnership with FDJ United (Unibet), has published Racing Home: Menopause, Midlife and Well-being in British Horseracing.

Led by Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University, the independent research explores how perimenopause, menopause and midlife intersect with working life across British horseracing – and outlines practical steps to better support and retain experienced women within the sport.

Building on earlier Racing Home research into working motherhood, this study focuses on another pivotal life stage that often coincides with career progression, caring responsibilities and leadership roles. With women over 50 now the fastest-growing segment of the UK workforce, supporting midlife women is both a wellbeing priority and a strategic workforce issue.

The qualitative research included seven workshops, 19 in-depth interviews and contributions from 77 participants across training yards, studs, racecourses, welfare organisations, governance, media and betting.

Key findings highlight that racing’s vocational culture — long hours and physically demanding roles — can intensify menopause symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption and cognitive changes. Many women reported feeling pressure to “power through” in silence, with menopause sometimes becoming a quiet exit point from the industry.

The report sets out short, medium and long-term recommendations, including:

  • A core ‘Racing & Menopause 101’ education package
  • Integration of menopause awareness into licensing and CPD
  • Development of mentoring and Midlife/Menopause Champions
  • Clearer workplace guidance on policies and reasonable adjustments
  • Expanded resources via the Racing Home portal

By embedding menopause awareness within existing wellbeing frameworks, the industry has an opportunity to retain critical expertise and strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.

Download

Motherhood & Horseracing: A Guide

June 14, 2025 | WiR Resources | 12.48 MB

On behalf of the team at Racing Home and Women in Racing, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new handbook for both employees and employers in the sport of horseracing, focused on supporting new parents to remain within the industry.
 
Entitled “Motherhood and Horseracing: Before, During and After Pregnancy Considerations for Parents and Employers”, this guide contains information and resources designed to help those on the road to becoming parents, as well as those that employ others who may be pregnant, post-partum or considering parenthood. Both adoption and surrogacy are touched upon, as well as both the physical and mental health considerations that may be useful for everyone to be aware of.

Download

Women’s Representation and Diversity in British Horseracing

March 21, 2024 | WiR Resources | 958.34 KB

Women in Racing’s initial research piece which led to the creation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group. This was undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway in 2017.

Download
work life balance

Work-life balance and caring data report

August 8, 2023 | WiR Resources | 395.79 KB

Download

WiR Resources

Menopause, Mid-Life and Wellbeing Report

February 25, 2026 | WiR Resources | 10.57 MB

Women in Racing, in partnership with FDJ United (Unibet), has published Racing Home: Menopause, Midlife and Well-being in British Horseracing.

Led by Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University, the independent research explores how perimenopause, menopause and midlife intersect with working life across British horseracing – and outlines practical steps to better support and retain experienced women within the sport.

Building on earlier Racing Home research into working motherhood, this study focuses on another pivotal life stage that often coincides with career progression, caring responsibilities and leadership roles. With women over 50 now the fastest-growing segment of the UK workforce, supporting midlife women is both a wellbeing priority and a strategic workforce issue.

The qualitative research included seven workshops, 19 in-depth interviews and contributions from 77 participants across training yards, studs, racecourses, welfare organisations, governance, media and betting.

Key findings highlight that racing’s vocational culture — long hours and physically demanding roles — can intensify menopause symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption and cognitive changes. Many women reported feeling pressure to “power through” in silence, with menopause sometimes becoming a quiet exit point from the industry.

The report sets out short, medium and long-term recommendations, including:

  • A core ‘Racing & Menopause 101’ education package
  • Integration of menopause awareness into licensing and CPD
  • Development of mentoring and Midlife/Menopause Champions
  • Clearer workplace guidance on policies and reasonable adjustments
  • Expanded resources via the Racing Home portal

By embedding menopause awareness within existing wellbeing frameworks, the industry has an opportunity to retain critical expertise and strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.

Download

Motherhood & Horseracing: A Guide

June 14, 2025 | WiR Resources | 12.48 MB

On behalf of the team at Racing Home and Women in Racing, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new handbook for both employees and employers in the sport of horseracing, focused on supporting new parents to remain within the industry.
 
Entitled “Motherhood and Horseracing: Before, During and After Pregnancy Considerations for Parents and Employers”, this guide contains information and resources designed to help those on the road to becoming parents, as well as those that employ others who may be pregnant, post-partum or considering parenthood. Both adoption and surrogacy are touched upon, as well as both the physical and mental health considerations that may be useful for everyone to be aware of.

Download

Women’s Representation and Diversity in British Horseracing

March 21, 2024 | WiR Resources | 958.34 KB

Women in Racing’s initial research piece which led to the creation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group. This was undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway in 2017.

Download
work life balance

Work-life balance and caring data report

August 8, 2023 | WiR Resources | 395.79 KB

Download

WiR Resources

Menopause, Mid-Life and Wellbeing Report

February 25, 2026 | WiR Resources | 10.57 MB

Women in Racing, in partnership with FDJ United (Unibet), has published Racing Home: Menopause, Midlife and Well-being in British Horseracing.

Led by Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University, the independent research explores how perimenopause, menopause and midlife intersect with working life across British horseracing – and outlines practical steps to better support and retain experienced women within the sport.

Building on earlier Racing Home research into working motherhood, this study focuses on another pivotal life stage that often coincides with career progression, caring responsibilities and leadership roles. With women over 50 now the fastest-growing segment of the UK workforce, supporting midlife women is both a wellbeing priority and a strategic workforce issue.

The qualitative research included seven workshops, 19 in-depth interviews and contributions from 77 participants across training yards, studs, racecourses, welfare organisations, governance, media and betting.

Key findings highlight that racing’s vocational culture — long hours and physically demanding roles — can intensify menopause symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disruption and cognitive changes. Many women reported feeling pressure to “power through” in silence, with menopause sometimes becoming a quiet exit point from the industry.

The report sets out short, medium and long-term recommendations, including:

  • A core ‘Racing & Menopause 101’ education package
  • Integration of menopause awareness into licensing and CPD
  • Development of mentoring and Midlife/Menopause Champions
  • Clearer workplace guidance on policies and reasonable adjustments
  • Expanded resources via the Racing Home portal

By embedding menopause awareness within existing wellbeing frameworks, the industry has an opportunity to retain critical expertise and strengthen long-term workforce sustainability.

Download

Motherhood & Horseracing: A Guide

June 14, 2025 | WiR Resources | 12.48 MB

On behalf of the team at Racing Home and Women in Racing, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new handbook for both employees and employers in the sport of horseracing, focused on supporting new parents to remain within the industry.
 
Entitled “Motherhood and Horseracing: Before, During and After Pregnancy Considerations for Parents and Employers”, this guide contains information and resources designed to help those on the road to becoming parents, as well as those that employ others who may be pregnant, post-partum or considering parenthood. Both adoption and surrogacy are touched upon, as well as both the physical and mental health considerations that may be useful for everyone to be aware of.

Download

Women’s Representation and Diversity in British Horseracing

March 21, 2024 | WiR Resources | 958.34 KB

Women in Racing’s initial research piece which led to the creation of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group. This was undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway in 2017.

Download
work life balance

Work-life balance and caring data report

August 8, 2023 | WiR Resources | 395.79 KB

Download