The Racing Foundation supports the long-term sustainability of UK thoroughbred horseracing by funding charitable projects that improve the people involved in racing, equine welfare, and the industry's environmental and social responsibility. It backs both larger strategic collaborations and smaller community or capacity-building projects, with a clear emphasis on initiatives that can deliver practical benefits to racing or strengthen the sector’s future resilience. It also funds equine science and veterinary research in partnership with the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Annual Giving$3.5M
Focus Areas
UK Thoroughbred Horseracing CharitiesEquine Welfare and Veterinary ResearchRacing Workforce and People DevelopmentESG and Sustainability in RacingTraining, Education and Capacity BuildingCollaborative Industry Strategy Projects
Giving Approach
Offers both Open Grants and Small Grants through three funding rounds per year; small grants are up to £30,000, while larger strategic projects start at £30,000 with no published maximum. Equine science research grants are made in collaboration with the Horserace Betting Levy Board, and the funder appears to favor UK-based, racing-sector-specific projects with practical, sector-wide impact.
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How to approach this funder
Watch for the three annual funding rounds and apply through the Open Grants process for UK thoroughbred horseracing and breeding-related work. Smaller projects should fit under £30,000, while larger requests should be framed as strategic, collaborative, and clearly tied to racing’s people, equine welfare, ESG, or industry-wide benefit. Research proposals should emphasize practical outcomes for racing and align with veterinary or equine science priorities.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from The Racing Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Sep 30, 2026
Equine Science Research Grants
equine scienceveterinary sciencebiological science+4 more
Who can apply: Research must be applied equine science research with clear practical benefit to Thoroughbred horseracing, and results must be published. Research projects should be commissioned and managed by the relevant industry stakeholder, which must be the grant holder. Applications are made through the HBLB Funding Gateway and must be marked for Racing Foundation funding consideration.
Deadline: Annual funding round. 2026 round opens in April 2026. Major Projects, Post-docs and Scholarships deadline: 30 June 2026. Small Projects deadline: second half of September 2026.
Racing's PeopleEquine WelfareEnvironmental, Social & Governance+14 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be charities or non-charitable organisations with a defined charitable purpose associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries. Projects must deliver charitable benefits associated with the industry, fit the Foundation’s strategy, and may be expected to show collaboration, match funding, and alignment with industry strategies. The Foundation does not fund individuals, retrospective costs, religion, gambling addiction work not focused on industry participants, or non-charitable activities.
Deadline: Three funding rounds per year. 2026 rounds shown: 2nd round first-stage deadline 5 May 2026, second-stage deadline 29 June 2026; 3rd round first-stage deadline 21 August 2026, second-stage deadline 19 October 2026.
Small Grants (Racing Foundation Open Grants Programme)
Racing's PeopleEquine WelfareEnvironmental, Social & Governance (ESG)+3 more
Who can apply: Organisations whose charitable activities are associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries; must be charitable in nature. Not available to individuals or projects that do not benefit the UK horseracing/breeding industry. Applicants required to provide audited accounts and demonstrate project need and match-funding where required.
Deadline: The Foundation runs three funding rounds per year (2026 dates published). 1st round 2026 (first-stage deadline 30 Jan 2026 — passed), 2nd round first-stage 05 May 2026 (passed), 3rd round first-stage 21 Aug 2026. Second-stage and trustee meeting dates published per round.
Open Grants (Racing Foundation Open Grants Programme)
Racing's PeopleEquine WelfareESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)+2 more
Who can apply: Charitable organisations undertaking projects that directly benefit the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industry. Projects should align with the Racing Foundation strategy where possible; retrospective funding not allowed; individual grants not permitted.
Deadline: Three funding rounds per year. 2026 published dates: 2nd round first-stage 05 May 2026 (passed), second-stage 15 June 2026, trustees meet 05 Aug 2026; 3rd round first-stage 21 Aug 2026, second-stage 19 Oct 2026, trustees meet 02 Dec 2026.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.