Measuring our impact
Since 2024, Autism In Racing has been measuring not only how many people the programme reaches, but how families engage with racing over time and how participating racecourses are developing more accessible experiences.
Registration data: 1 January–19 October 2026Booked places across 48 racecourse fixture dates with valid bookings to 19 October 2026. These are registrations, not verified attendance. Two separately arranged group visits add approximately 60 reported places.
Fixture-date reporting window: 1 January–19 October 2026 (orders exported 19 October). The 28 registered places for the Pontefract supported-living group are included in the 1,705 total. The two other organised group visits account for approximately 60 additional reported places. Adult and child ticket counts are reconciled to the 19 October attendee report. Other detailed engagement measures retain their original reporting periods where a fresh calculation is unavailable.
Who was engaging with racing?
Adult and child booked places have been reconciled across the 19 October attendee and order exports. The additional engagement measures shown below are dated to the period from which they were calculated.
Adult/child ticket totals and booking statistics use event dates to 19 October 2026, including cancelled fixtures. Sensory needs and repeat-engagement figures labelled 3 August remain historical measures; updated cross-year retention requires matching the 2025 records.
Planned delivery and recorded bookings
The original 2026 calendar listed 62 planned Autism Friendly Raceday dates across 32 racecourses. Additional private activities took place at Ascot, Bangor-on-Dee and Haydock (with Autism Together), outside that calendar. Other private events are still being identified, so the wider programme included at least 35 racecourses, subject to final reconciliation.
The 62 dates and 32 racecourses relate to the original planned calendar only. Ascot, Bangor-on-Dee and Haydock were additional private activities, including a private event with Autism Together at Haydock. Other separately arranged events may increase the total. Humanitix recorded bookings for 48 fixture dates to 19 October, including cancelled fixtures; this is not a completed-raceday count.
What families tell us
Our Event Impact Survey asked people about their experience of an Autism Friendly Raceday. These findings reflect the experiences shared by survey respondents and should not be interpreted as representing every family who attended.
Much less stressful
Respondents reported that their visit felt much less stressful than a typical busy event.
Less isolated
Respondents reported feeling less isolated to some extent following their visit.
Attendance enabled
Respondents said they would not have attended without Autism In Racing's support.
Sensory facilities rated very satisfactory
Respondents rated the sensory or quiet space very satisfactory.
Impact on the raceday experience
The findings suggest that specialist support does more than provide a quiet place. For these respondents it helped reduce the stress of attending a busy public event and made racing feel more accessible and socially welcoming.
Understanding the barriers to participation
Our wider Community Impact Survey asked families about their experiences of mainstream public events, the barriers they face and the adaptations they value. Respondents could select multiple answers for some questions.
Had avoided or left events
Respondents reported avoiding events, leaving early or deciding not to return when suitable adaptations or support were unavailable.
Noise as a barrier
Respondents identified loud or unpredictable noise as a difficulty when attending mainstream events.
Crowds as a barrier
Respondents identified large crowds as a difficulty.
Reduced sensory overload
Respondents reported reduced sensory overload as a benefit of quiet spaces or sensory adaptations at AIR events.
What makes public events difficult?
What difference do adaptations make?
Multiple-response questions do not sum to 100%. Results describe self-reported experiences and should not be generalised to all programme participants.
Feedback from families, carers and supported-living groups illustrates how quieter spaces, welcoming hosts and individual support help people access racing, feel included and enjoy time together. The selected quotations below are personal accounts, not representative survey results.
“A truly unforgettable experience”
“I would just like to thank Autism in racing for a truly unforgettable experience for our service users and also staff.”
“The sensory room was a great space for individuals to take time out when they needed and the activities provided gave them something to do rather than being sat in an empty room”
“we will definitely be booking back next year”
Keeley Toomer · BTH Care LLP · Email received 7 October 2026 · Selected verbatim excerpts
“Some of our service users are already asking to go again.”
“The day provided a valuable opportunity for our service users to experience horse racing in an accessible way, while also supporting socialisation, community inclusion and new experiences.”
Bekim Redenica · BTH Care LLP · Email received 6 October 2026 · Selected verbatim excerpts
In their own words
Selected comments from family emails, group organisers, social messages and anonymous survey responses. Scroll to explore their experiences.
“Quite possibly one of the best easiest days out we have ever had as caregivers.”
The Jiggins family · Email, September 2026
“Freedom to know that at any point in the day you have somewhere you can go to to chill out and scale things back down to a regulated amount.”
The Jiggins family · Email, September 2026
“I would just like to thank Autism in racing for a truly unforgettable experience for our service users and also staff.”
Keeley Toomer · BTH Care LLP · October 2026
“The sensory room was a great space for individuals to take time out when they needed and the activities provided gave them something to do rather than being sat in an empty room”
Keeley Toomer · BTH Care LLP · October 2026
“Some of our service users are already asking to go again.”
Bekim Redenica · BTH Care LLP · October 2026
“The day provided a valuable opportunity for our service users to experience horse racing in an accessible way, while also supporting socialisation, community inclusion and new experiences.”
Bekim Redenica · BTH Care LLP · October 2026
“Them knowing they had a space to regulate throughout the day built their confidence, prevented melt downs and made them feel included.”
Lucy · Hereford Racecourse feedback · April 2026
“This is rare for us and as a horse loving family it has been amazing to share the day with members of the family who would opt out of joining us due to finding everything to overwhelming.”
Lucy · Hereford Racecourse feedback · April 2026
“Gaz is brilliant, gave my boy the best day and access to Racing that would not be open to him otherwise.”
Wes · Instagram message · June 2026
“Autism in racing is a great concept and we will keep trying with Blake and to support as best we can”
Instagram message · July 2026
“We often see adverts for point to points in the Cotswold and hunt gatherings which we’d love to attend but we think of how overwhelming it will be and just stay home. Keep up the amazing work”
Instagram message · April 2026
“We felt included and enjoyed and encouraged. We really had a great experience and seeing our autistic son enjoy watching horse race was amazing with all the help we got”
Anonymous survey respondent · 2026
“Our son can be reluctant to go out of the house on numerous occasions we therefore have got to the stage where we don’t buy tickets to events due to cost and non use, with AIR it has given us the ability to plan an event without an upfront cost, therefore reducing the stress of we have to attend else it’s a waste. When we have arrived the hosts have been warm and friendly allowing us the information and space to make the day positive for the whole family.”
Anonymous survey respondent · 2026
“A massive difference！ We cannot rate Gaz highly enough. Katie loves him and he has been brilliant. He is so knowledgeable and helpful.”
Anonymous survey respondent · 2026
“It made it possible for us to attend a raceday as a family. I have been alone or with my husband but it was wonderful to include our son. He loved it as there was less pressure and anxiety (we often have to leave places early so a cheaper ticket and the accommodations and specialist staff made it much less risky for us). A lovely day and one we’d love to repeat！”
Anonymous survey respondent · 2026
“It has meant that we have been able to experience a race day and felt comfortable and accepted.”
Anonymous survey respondent · 2026
“given us the opportunity to attend somethung that wouldn't have even been tried due to costings and facilities. the quiet ateas helped us escape the crowds and nouse when it got too much but also allowed us to get close to the races when we were calmer”
Anonymous survey response
“We had such an amazing day with zero judgement.. that in itself was enough for my son to feel more relaxed about trying other events”
Anonymous survey response
“We were treated with such kindness, warmth and understanding. Nothing was too much trouble. In fact, the team often anticipated our needs and offered help before we even had to ask！ We came away feeling genuinely uplifted as parents, and our child was incredibly happy.”
Anonymous survey response · Extract from longer response
“a huge difference in being able to access an event successfully, adapting and making quiet spaces available is really helpful to families to be able to attend an event and relax a little whilst experiencing an event just like other families can.”
Anonymous survey response
“The ability to try something new that we never thought we could attend. The subsidised tickets are helpful in that we may have thought why spend all that money on a ticket if he wants to leave after half hour.”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“Its really great to have the quiet space and to have an understanding host it makes a huge difference to us feeling welcomed and not 'different' to everyone else. The kids were able to take breaks and then go back to look at the horses.”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“I was very apprehensive about going and before you gave us the chance to go we used to sit on the benches at the 6 f mark on our own watching everyone else enjoy themselves. thanks to you we are now enjoying ourselves along with everyone else and hopefully will see you next season. Thank you”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“Family days out are normally very difficult and we dont access many public events that other families might, so it was great to have this day out.”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“We would never have been able to attend a race day without what Autism In Racing offer - and all 3 we have attended we have been able to stay all day！”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“It impacts a lot. We can enjoy the event without any stress, worry and confidence. Also as family it's a great opportunity to the whole family especially siblings (most of the time they've to sacrifice to go back home or not to attent).”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“It has allowed the family to have a whole day out which we could never do before. This meant parents and siblings struggled to have a day out. Before attending an AIR event we could stay somewhere for about an hour. On most occasions attending the races we have stayed all day.”
Anonymous survey response · 14 October 2026
“It is such a lovely space to be in. I know my daughter is able to manage better because of having the open access to that safe space.”
Anonymous survey response · 18 October 2026
“My favourite part was when my horse won the race.”
Karl · Blossom Barns · Published AIR story
“My favourite part was being able to get close to the race horses.”
Laura · Blossom Barns · Published AIR story
“The quiet sensory room was very calming and had some good ideas.”
Richard · Blossom Barns · Published AIR story
“Our learners had a fantastic time on their recent visits to The National Stud with Autism in Racing”
Anna Butler-Finbow · Red2Green · Published AIR story
“It was heartwarming to see how much joy grooming one of the horses gave”
Jane Buick · Autism In Racing · Published AIR story
“It’s amazing what can be done in the right environment.”
Kaytlin · Parent · Published AIR story
“Never seen him look as proud of himself before.”
Sarah · Parent · Published AIR story
“My children had the best time and are now all asking to do pony riding.”
Juliette · Parent · Published AIR story
Selected extracts retain the original wording, including informal spelling and punctuation. Individual quotations illustrate personal experiences and should not be treated as representative of all survey respondents. Names or social-media handles should only be published with permission.
Year-on-year growth and evidence
Autism In Racing launched in January 2024. The available evidence shows rapid expansion in both delivery and recorded reach. Because data collection improved between years, each figure is labelled by its original measure rather than being treated as perfectly interchangeable.
Programme delivery by year
2024 and 2025 are reported full-year delivery totals; 2026 shows 48 fixture dates with bookings to 19 October, not verified delivered racedays.
Recorded programme reach
2025 shows reported registered beneficiaries; the 2026 chart shows booked places to 19 October. Definitions differ, so this is not a like-for-like growth rate.
| Measure | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 to 19 October | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autism Friendly delivery | 30 racedays | 70+ fixtures | 48 fixture dates with bookings (not completed-fixture count) | Delivery more than doubled between the first and second full programme years. |
| Venue reach | Not consistently recorded | 39 racecourses | At least 35 racecourses in the wider programme, including additional private activities | 32 racecourses were listed in the original calendar; Ascot, Bangor-on-Dee and Haydock were additional. Other private events remain to be reconciled. |
| People reached | Not available in supplied data | 650+ registered beneficiaries | 1,705 booked places | The available measures differ, so a percentage increase in beneficiaries cannot be calculated reliably. |
| Return engagement | Not available | 33.1% returners in the 2025 survey | Earlier analysis to 3 August: 75 cross-year contacts; 30 repeat within 2026 | The 3 August 2026 cohort introduces direct record-matching alongside the earlier survey measure. |
| Access dependency | Not available | 71% would not attend without sensory support | 70% of Event Impact Survey respondents would not attend without AIR support | The 2025 and 2026 surveys both indicate that AIR support can enable attendance, using separate survey evidence. |
| Future intention | Not available | 96%+ likely to attend again | Verified repeat booking now available | The evidence base is progressing from stated intention towards observed return behaviour. |
Historical return-engagement analysis (to 3 August 2026)
Repeat participation is one of the clearest behavioural indicators available. It demonstrates that engagement has continued beyond a single booking, although it should not be presented as proof of improved wellbeing without direct feedback.
Three views of return engagement
Each percentage answers a different question and uses a different evidence base.
In the 3 August cohort, this represents 23.7% of identifiable booking contacts. When combined with additional families who attended more than one 2026 event, 88 identifiable families show repeat engagement since 2025.
Why this matters
- It demonstrates continued participation rather than one-off reach.
- It provides evidence of an emerging relationship with racing.
- It supports the BHA themes of belonging, community access and repeated engagement.
- It creates a baseline for future retention and confidence measures.
Audience profile: historical booking cohort
The adult/child mix and referral analysis below are based on the earlier 3 August 2026 export. The 19 October order export does not provide a reliable adult-versus-child ticket breakdown; these figures are shown for historical context, not as current totals.
Adult and child places
Booked places for event dates to 19 October 2026, including cancelled fixtures.
How booking groups heard about AIR
Measured once per family-event booking, not once per ticket.
Contribution to the BHA Social Impact Strategy
Autism In Racing's evidence aligns with all four social impact goals, while keeping a clear distinction between delivery outputs, behavioural indicators and directly measured outcomes.
Power of Opportunity
571 child places were booked in the cohort to 3 August 2026. Accessible first experiences can create a foundation for later mentoring, education, volunteering and employment pathways, although progression must be measured separately.
Power of the Racehorse
Families access authentic racing environments and opportunities to connect with thoroughbreds. Booking data confirms access to racing fixtures; direct horse interaction should be captured as an additional outcome.
Power of Racing
75 cross-year returners and 30 families attending multiple 2026 events provide direct evidence of sustained engagement. The 2025 survey also reported that 71% would not attend without sensory support.
Power of Community
The 2026 calendar included 32 racecourses, with additional private activities at Ascot, Bangor-on-Dee and Haydock, including a private event with Autism Together. This wider reach demonstrates opportunities for community access, while confirmed delivery totals remain subject to reconciliation.
Evidence strength at a glance
| Outcome area | Current evidence | Evidence status | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programme access | 1,705 Humanitix booked places across 48 fixture dates with valid bookings to 19 October 2026 | Registration output | Registration total; confirmed attendance not yet reconciled |
| Sustained engagement | 75 cross-year contacts; 30 repeat booking contacts in 2026 (August cohort) | Matched booking behaviour | Evidence of repeat bookings, rather than independently verified attendance |
| Reduced access barriers | 71% would not attend without sensory support | Survey outcome | 2025 survey respondents; a separate 2026 survey found 70% would not have attended without AIR support |
| Future engagement | 96%+ likely or very likely to attend again | Survey intention | Expressed intention among 2025 survey respondents |
| 2026 raceday experience | 85% of Event Impact Survey respondents reported much less stress; 95% felt less isolated to some extent | Self-reported survey experience | Self-selected survey responses describe participants’ experiences |
Methodology, privacy and limitations
This public page contains aggregate statistics only. Participant names, email addresses, telephone numbers, addresses, accessibility details and individual booking histories are excluded.
How figures were calculated
- 2026 registration totals use valid Humanitix booking records for event dates up to 19 October 2026; abandoned and transferred fixtures are subject to final attendance reconciliation.
- Family-level retention was matched using normalised booking email addresses; this was used only for deduplication and return-engagement analysis.
- Cross-year returners were identified only where the same email appeared in both the 2025 registration export and 2026 booking data.
- Sensory needs were counted once per family-event booking to avoid multiplying the same response across tickets.
Important limitations
- Check-in data is excluded because recording varies between racecourses.
- A booking email address is not necessarily a unique family or household; it is a measure of identifiable booking contacts.
- The 2025 and 2026 systems collect different fields and use different definitions.
- No monetary social value is claimed without a recognised valuation method and direct outcome evidence.
Sources: AIR BHA Social Impact Strategy 2025 Report; Autism Friendly Raceday Registration 2025 export; Humanitix attendee, event and purchaser reports exported 3 August 2026. Additional sources: Humanitix order export dated 19 October 2026; AIR Event Impact Survey; AIR Community Impact Survey; 2026 programme calendar and group-visit records. Survey samples are self-selected and should not be read as population estimates.