Autism In Racing

A record-breaking 27 trainers in Newmarket will open their doors to the public during this year's Henry Cecil Open Weekend, which takes place on September 20-21. They include the likes of William Haggas, Roger Varian, George Boughey and James Fanshawe, while this year also sees the introduction of two autism-friendly yards, in collaboration with Autism In Racing: Ross Burdon and David Simcock. Before the yards open at 9am on Sunday, September 21, visitors are invited to watch some of Newmarket's best horses in action on Warren Hill, an event sponsored...

The Curragh Racecourse launched its brand-new sensory room during the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend, marking a milestone as it became the first racecourse in Ireland to offer a permanent, purpose-built space designed to support neurodivergent children and their families. The development of the sensory room was made possible with the support of many, including jockey William Buick and his wife, Jane, along with Autism in Racing founder Bobby Beevers. It will allow the Curragh to provide a calm, safe and inclusive environment, where individuals with sensory processing needs can take...

Autism in Racing has teamed up with the National Autistic Society in an effort to help encourage autistic people to work in the racing industry. Autism-friendly racedays have been staged at a number of tracks and with the support of the Bloomfield Trust. According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, only 29 per cent of autistic people are employed. "I'm really thrilled that Autism in Racing and the National Autistic Society will partner up through their Autism at Work programme," said Bobby Beevers, founder of Autism in...

When you live within the world of autism, you have a special antenna for the word and its associations, a heightened sensitivity. It was on a late December evening that a horse called In Honor of Autism came onto this radar running at Golden Gate Fields. In fact, there were two runners in the silks of Johnny Taboada in the race, the other named Talk About Autism. Lo and behold, the former--a son of Stanford--won and my interest was peaked. I have a son, Dylan, who is non-verbal and, we...