Lambourn Economic Impact Study Concludes

[Wandering Eyes]

The horse racing industry in and around the village of Lambourn has show it is worth over £22.6m per year and that racing is responsible for one third of the jobs in the area. Commissioned by Jockey Club Estates and West Berkshire District Council and conducted by SQW, the report titled ‘Horse Racing in Lambourn Valley’ acknowledged the role of Newbury Racecourse and the positive impact it has on Lambourn, the second biggest training centre in the country, as well as the challenged faced by the racing industry in the area. Based on 2017 data, horse racing is responsible for the equivalent of 754 full-time jobs, approximately 30% of an estimated total of 2,500 jobs in the parishes of Lambourn, East Garston and Great Shefford. According to the study, the racing industry in Lambourn is increasing, with the number of horses utilizing the public Lambourn Training Grounds rising by 16% in the last two years. For the full report, click here.

“Lambourn’s natural attributes make it a wonderful location for training horses and since Jockey Club Estates took on the management of the public gallops we have invested heavily in the facilities,” said Nick Patton, Managing Director of Jockey Club Estates. “Our objective is to attract as many owners, trainers and horses to Lambourn as we can and to further build on the progress made in recent years. Our thanks to West Berks District Council for their support for this project which has demonstrated the value and importance of the racing industry to the village and the surrounding area.”

“The report confirms the progress that Lambourn’s horse racing cluster has made during recent years and the potential for its contribution to increase further,” said SQW’s Bill Wicksteed. “However, it also highlights issues that need to be addressed to ensure that its potential is realised. Staff housing and traffic management are major issues which can only be tackled through a partnership effort by racing, the local community and public authorities. We look forward to working with the Jockey Club and others to build on the industry’s success and to deliver the infrastructure that will allow it to flourish in the years to come.”

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