Juddmonte commits three-year funding to Racing Welfare's breeding sector Community Engagement role

Racing Welfare, the horseracing industry’s human welfare charity, announces that Juddmonte has pledged to fund the charity’s Community Engagement Officer (Thoroughbred Stud and Breeding Sector) role, for the next three years.

Taken from Racing Welfare press release, 1st October 2026

The dedicated Community Engagement Officer role was created in 2023 to raise awareness of the support available via Racing Welfare to those working in the breeding community, with the sector making up only 5.7% of the people supported by the charity in 2022.

Keith Haggins has been in the position since July 2024 and brings nearly thirty years of experience working within the Thoroughbred breeding industry. During his career, Keith has worked with many leading figures across the globe, including holding the position of Manager at Waddesdon Stud for the late Lady Rothschild.

An important part of Keith’s role is to connect stud farms and employees with their local welfare officer, so they have easier access to support if they need it. In 2025, through proactive stud and sales visits, Racing Welfare were able to reach an estimated 1,415 people from the sector.

Keith also supports Racing Welfare’s community events programme of sporting and social events, encouraging attendance from stud and breeding sector employees. Stud farms are often geographically isolated, so these events provide opportunities for staff to meet others in similar roles. Over the last couple of years, Keith has also organised well-attended lunch/dinner networking events for senior stud staff.

During its initial three-year period, the Community Engagement Officer role was funded by the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. Gerald Leigh was a successful owner-breeder of racehorses, based at Eydon Hall Farm in Northamptonshire. Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Sarah Whitney said: “The Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust is proud to have funded the Community Engagement Officer role for the Thoroughbred breeding sector for its first three years, and we have enjoyed working with Racing Welfare throughout this time. Judging from the momentum that has been built, I am sure that the project will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Recent figures show good progress, in that the stud and breeding sector now makes up in the region of 10% of those supported by Racing Welfare. Juddmonte’s generous donation to fund the Community Engagement Officer role will ensure Keith and Racing Welfare are able to continue to grow this awareness and widen the support net to the stud and breeding sector until at least 2029.

On behalf of Juddmonte, Chief Operating Officer Mike Saunders said:

“Juddmonte is delighted to support Racing Welfare’s Community Engagement Officer role for the Thoroughbred Stud and Breeding Sector and to help build on the excellent foundations established by the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. It is a fitting continuation, given Juddmonte’s connection with the late Mr Gerald Leigh, whose Cayton Park Stud became the first Juddmonte property when it was acquired in 1980.

“With breeding at the heart of Juddmonte, we recognise the vital contribution of stud staff and the challenges they can face. Keith’s work has already made a significant difference in increasing awareness of the support available through Racing Welfare, and we are pleased to help ensure that this important work continues to grow and reach even more people across the breeding community in the years ahead.”

Dawn Goodfellow, Chief Executive of Racing Welfare, said:

“We are hugely grateful to Juddmonte for this generous three-year commitment, which will allow us to build on the strong foundations established by the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. We are incredibly grateful to the Trust for having the vision to establish and fund this role during its first three years, and for working so closely with us throughout that time. Their support has enabled Keith to demonstrate just how important it is to engage directly with people across the stud and breeding sector, ensuring they know that confidential, practical support is available whenever they need it. Juddmonte’s commitment now gives us the stability to build on that legacy, deepen those relationships, reach more people and continue strengthening the welfare network across the breeding community.”