US industry initiative Light Up Racing set to fold

A lack of funding has been blamed for the demise of Light Up Racing, a US initiative designed at addressing the thoroughbred industry’s major issues as well as perception of the sport.

In a letter submitted by interim executive director Amy Brin, the program reflected on its mission and the challenges it faced sustaining that work.

It was aimed to rebuild public confidence in the sport by addressing criticism head on rather than attempting to manage perceptions through traditional messaging.

“From the beginning, the work was based on a simple principle: confidence in the sport cannot be manufactured through messaging; it has to be earned through honesty, transparency and proof,” Brin wrote.

While Brin noted there was broad agreement across the industry about the need for more unified communication and the importance of public trust, she cited ongoing issues with funding and organisational alignment.

Light Up Racing, which was inspired by Kick Up in Australia, will remain active through to the Breeders’ Cup in November.