The National Horseracing Museum has become the official home of the Racing With Pride collection and archives.
Visitors to the museum will be able to see items that reveal the story and achievements of Racing With Pride, a dedicated network for the sport’s LGBT+ community and allies established in 2020 by Dr David Letts and the Diversity in Racing Steering Group.
The collection will go on display at the museum from Saturday 17 June and will build over the coming years. Items to see include Pride-inspired racing silks, horse blankets, racecards and more.
Racing With Pride has already made a huge impact on the sport in a short time, increasing visibility and advocating for the community. A new film about the network will also be screened. It was made during a Racing With Pride get-together at the museum this year and is funded by Art Fund, Arts Council England, SHARE Museums East, and the British Horseracing Authority.
Other Pride Month celebrations include two ‘takeover’ events. On Friday 23 June, the museum will host a Racing With Pride industry educational event, which will see professionals from across the sport come together to discuss LGBT+ experiences and inclusion. On Saturday 24 June, visitors will be able to follow a Pride-themed trail around the museum and participate in rainbow-inspired creative activities.
Dr Letts, Chair of Racing With Pride, said: “It’s only been three years, but it can be very easy not to recognise some of the achievements of the network and having this collection has been a really nice reminder of how far we have come in a short time’.
The museum’s Creative Programme Manager, Sarah Coleman, said: “We are delighted to be the home of the Racing With Pride collection and archive and part of Newmarket and horseracing’s Pride celebrations this year with the fantastic programme of activity.”
