About us
LIGHT UP RACING
Changing the conversation about horse racing to protect its future.
Objective
Empower participants with the knowledge and confidence to engage in meaningful conversations with the concerned public and external media, and provide the information needed to make informed decisions that prioritize equine welfare.
By fostering industry unity, we will actively work towards driving positive change and pushing for best practice adoption.
Strategic pillars
TRANSPARENCY
By addressing misinformation and answering common concerns with accurate information supported by scientific papers, we can dismantle the wall of secrecy that separates the horse racing industry and the public.
AWARENESS
We aim to amplify positive industry progress and celebrate remarkable stories while effectively communicating complex topics regarding scientific advancements.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Anchored by the question, “What is right by the horse?”, we hold ourselves and others accountable as custodians of the breed. Multiple layers of accountability, from leadership to peers, ensure responsible practices throughout the entire industry.
COMMUNITY
Shifting power from top-down to bottom-up, we empower our industry community as ambassadors with information, skills, and confidence to proudly represent our industry.
While we might not have the authority to directly write policies or alter rules, the industry community possess a significant power through unity; by standing together, we can effect meaningful change and drive its evolution.
board of directors
Price bell
I manage our family’s Mill Ridge Farm. Mill Ridge has raised or sold 37 grade 1 winners just since 2000. We are a small family operation, privileged to raise thoroughbreds on land we have farmed for generations.
I am inspired to unite a grassroots effort to inform, educate, and celebrate the thoroughbred.
Christina blacker
I am an on-air host for FanDuel Racing, an ambassador with EquiBase Race Lens, and serve on this Board as well as the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. I co-founded “I am Horse Racing” and am an annual speaker at the Horse Racing Women’s Summit.
Horse Racing is a beautiful sport filled with equally beautiful and deeply caring hard-working individuals and that is not always what we are portrayed as. A lot of important and necessary work is being done at the highest levels and it is up to us all to highlight the good that is being done and push for continued improvements.
Roderick Wachman
I am a breeder, consignor, owner & bloodstock consultant. I was foaled and reared in Ireland but have been based in Kentucky since 1994.
We desperately need a grassroots movement to unite, engage, educate and empower the entire thoroughbred community with both factual information and the confidence to improve the perception of horse racing.
Dr Jeff Berk
I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and was previously a partner at Ocala Equine Hospital, now residing and practicing in Kentucky with Equine Medical Associates.
Ethical hard-working people within the industry deserve to have a group that will defend its integrity, contrary to those who spread misinformation. Light Up Racing does just that. Let’s work together to create an equitable situation for thoroughbred racing and breeding, with the welfare of horses our paramount concern.
Every industry issue Light Up will challenge is guided by a fundamental question:
What is in the best interest of the horse?
Dr. JR Coffman, a past President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, captured this sentiment when he wrote:
“Whenever a question is answered based upon the welfare of the horse, the human principles involved are also best served in the long run.
We are here for the horse; to the extent that we are responsive to that concept, we will prosper both as individuals and as an organization.”
Discern
With curiosity and a commitment to industry stewardship, we identify perception and welfare issues that require prioritized illumination and deeper understanding. This endeavour requires us to examine our industry with a critical eye, to acknowledge what is true, however unpalatable it may be, and bravely work to change what cannot be defended.
Educate
We educate the industry and the public on evidence-based practices and positive initiatives designed to ensure the welfare of our horses. By addressing misinformation and answering common concerns with accurate information supported by scientific papers in a palatable format, we can dismantle the wall of secrecy that separates the horse racing industry and the public.
Convene
We hold space for needed multi-stakeholder conversations that will foster systematic changes and growth, ensuring full welfare accountability across everyone involved in the industry. When decisions are made with the welfare of the horse as the guiding value, the principles of humanity and the wider industry at large are also best served.
Empower
By shifting power from top-down to bottom-up, we empower our industry community to become ambassadors who possess the information, skills, and confidence to proudly represent our industry. Unity within our community holds significant power; standing together, we can bring about meaningful change and drive its evolution.
get involved in light up
It’s time to join a vibrant and dedicated community committed to making a difference in the horse racing industry!
Whether you’re a breeder, groom, track rider, or someone who simply cares deeply about horse racing your voice and efforts are crucial.
