Stable lads? No, call us racing grooms instead
STABLE lads have been the backbone of British horse racing since the 18th Century.
Whether at country estates or training yards, their hard work has helped keep the sport afloat.
But it is now claimed the term stable lad suggests a menial trade – and puts off potential recruits.
Racing chiefs have decided to rebrand the role, changing the title to racing groom.
The British Horseracing Authority, the sport’s regulator, is to abandon ‘stable lad’ in all official documents and job advertisements.
Zoe Elliott, of the BHA, said: ‘We are encouraging employers to modernise and move away from the term stable lads and lasses.
‘This is not just from a gender point of view but because we have people of all ages in the role. Similarly we want the more senior person in the yard, the head lad or lass, to be described as team leader or yard manager. ‘The problem is the old terms does not reflect the skills of these employees and does not do them justice. They are really very highly skilled.’ There are 6,500 stable staff and about 1,700 new stable lads and lasses are needed a year – but the shortfall stands at almost 800. George McGrath, of the National Association of Stable Staff, denied the move was down to political correctness. He said: ‘A stable lad conjures up the image of a 12-year-old boy who lives in a barn above the horses. Racing groom has a more professional feel about it.’ But Gloucestershire trainer Nigel TwistonDavies said: ‘It seems a bit silly. We get on all right as they are. It’s political correctness and everything else, I imagine.’