Vicky’s Notes
You can’t build trust in the dark
This week, an article titled “Not Like Us? Candid Thoughts on the Horse Racing Industry” caught our attention.
It was written by an equestrian – someone outside racing – who admits that even among fellow horse people, simply saying the words “Kentucky Derby” can earn you a dismissive look. You know the one. The lip curl.
And if you work in racing, you’ve probably felt it too. You’ve sensed the distance between us and the rest of the horse world. The assumption that we don’t care as deeply, that racing is somehow less ethical than other disciplines.
But here’s the thing:
Racing is in the limelight. And the downside of that is obvious – we’re an easy target.
But the upside? We’re also more visible, more regulated, and more accountable than almost any other horse sport.
Every start is tracked. Every injury is logged. Every win, loss, and breakdown is on public record. Soon, even training fatalities will be published.
Visibility forces accountability. And that’s a good thing.
But we can’t just point to transparency and assume it’s enough.
Because if we want to be proud of this sport, we have to be able to defend it – not with spin, but with integrity. That means making sure that what we do behind the scenes can stand up to the spotlight.
It’s not about trying to convince people racing is perfect.
It’s about making sure we’re good enough that we don’t need to.
Because the more we open the door, the more we show the care, science, and integrity behind racing, the more trust we earn. And that trust will never come from silence. It comes from action, transparency, and a willingness to face the hard stuff head-on.
If you’ve ever had someone question what you do – at a family BBQ, on social media, at work -what would you say back if you knew they were really ready to listen?
Let’s have that conversation. You can reply to this email] or tag @LightUpRacing in your posts.
With Race for the Crown premiering on Netflix April 22, and the Triple Crown on our doorstep, it’s that time of year when horse racing is entering the public consciousness.
So how do we use that spotlight – not just to defend ourselves – but to positively show the truth?
Strategy Insights
More attention means more questions: Let’s be ready
More eyeballs mean more opinions. More scrutiny. More opportunity for misinformation to spread, especially when something goes wrong.
We’ve been busy building a three-part framework to help the industry deal with scrutiny confidently, respond in real-time, and build long-term trust.
🔴 #1 Reactive Response
When something happens, we respond immediately.
Whether it’s an on-track incident, a misreported article, or a social media pile-on, we work behind the scenes to:
- Create and share fact-based content to set the record straight
- Ensure accurate information reaches the public before misinformation takes hold
- Empower the community to step in with accuracy
If you spot something?
🎯 Tag us on social (@LightUpRacing), or forward it straight to us on social media or Whatsapp. We’ll step in with facts, context, and clarity.
Explore our Common Questions hub for ready-to-share explainers that help stop misinformation in its tracks – before it spreads.
🟠 #2 Proactive Preparation
The best time to prepare is before something happens.
We don’t wait for issues to blow up – we’ve planned ahead. That means:
- Developing pre-built messaging and content for likely scenarios
- Providing media training & guidance
- Ensuring there’s content ready to go in the crucial silence period that follows an incident
Because when an industry says nothing, people assume there’s something to hide. We make sure that blank space gets filled with transparency and empathy.
🟢 #3 Preventative Awareness
Trust is built over time, not in the middle of a crisis.
So we focus on:
- Regular education: through reels, explainers and common questions answered
- Highlighting care, progress, and the people doing it right
- Answering questions before they become problems
This work is about being the trusted source people find when they start Googling for answers. And when something does go wrong, ensuring the industry already has goodwill stored in the bank of public opinion.
🎧 On the pod: Paddock Pulse!
Leah Reddoch O’Meara & Leah Alessandroni are joined by Alison O’Dwyer about her success as a retrainer of off the track thoroughbreds.
📢 Share with those in the equestrian world to celebrate the versatility of the thoroughbred!
📠 Common Question Spotlight: Is 2YO racing harmful?
With breeze-up sales in full swing – then on the other end of the spectrum – Germany pushing to ban even training horses before their 30th month birthday, the constant debate is relevant again: Is two-year-old racing bad for horses?
In short? It depends what you mean by “racing.”
There’s a difference between pushing a horse to run what is, most likely, the fastest fraction of its life, and conditioning a young athlete within its natural comfort zone.
🏇 Research shows that horses who begin training at two are more likely to develop stronger bones, more durable tissue, and – statistically – longer racing careers than those who start later.
At the same time, we’re not ignoring the gaps. There’s still more to understand about full skeletal maturity and the mental aptitude of young horses under pressure.
🧠 Our common question answer walks through:
The biological differences between horse and human development
Why foals are cantering within hours and covering miles by the end of week one
What science says about bone remodeling, growth windows, and long-term durability
The important distinction between responsible training and commercial overreach
👉 Read the full article on our website and keep it handy next time someone hits you with, “But aren’t they just babies?”
🎥 Content Inspo
Who is creating cool horse racing content?
Let’s check out some inspiration from around the globe…
A great account to steer those new to racing toward – superb explainers and insights about all parts of US racing.
If you want to gain inspiration for running an epic social media strategy for a training stable, check out Ciaron Maher Racing in Australia. Insights, information and transparency from every angle within the stable.
Know someone who loves horse racing but isn’t a member yet?
Invite them to join us here!
Together we can make a difference
LUR is an independent initiative powered by passionate people who believe in the future of racing. If you like what we’re doing and want to see more of it:
Donate now to help us expand content, resources, and reach.
Light Up Racing Directors
Price Bell
Dr. Jeff Berk
Christina Blacker
Roderick Wachman
