Beyond the Finish Line

Sport Social Work’s Role in Horse Racing

Abstract

Horse racing in North America is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, employing close to 500,000 workers who train, ride, and groom horses, as well as those who work to keep the racetrack running daily. In the past 10 years, the mental health needs of jockeys and those who work in the industry have been spotlighted, as issues regarding mental health, substance abuse, debilitating injuries and eating disorders have been noted. Sport social work, an emerging segment of the social work profession, has emerged to address the needs of athletes at all levels, including jockeys, backstretch workers and racetrack workers. This exploratory commentary and review is but one of the few that address the need for sport social work at North American racetracks and will illuminate the need for social work intervention in horse racing. The study will be viewed through Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory in order to provide an overarching perspective as to how sport social workers may apply interventions in horse racing.

Keywords: Horse Racing, Mental Health, Stigma, Sport Social Work