NARS, otherwise known as the National Association of Racing Staff, is an independent union for stable staff employed by licensed racehorse trainers. With a base in Newmarket, it looks after all aspects of training and development including running a number of courses, such as photography.

In September 2021, working with West Suffolk College, NARS held their first photography course. It was a great hit and with interest growing in Newmarket, they started to attract enquiries from further afield resulting in people travelling from all over the country, including Shropshire, Surrey, the Midlands and Dorset to view the home of horseracing by lens.

The course encompasses everything for beginners, from learning how to work a camera, taking the perfect shot to then editing photos with Photoshop.

Study visits included trips to Tattersalls, the Rowley Mile Racecourse, Dalham Hall Stud, the Gallops as well as a visit to Pegasus Stables, the yard of trainer James Fanshawe where students were able to capture an array of shots including landscapes, iconic buildings and of course thoroughbreds, perfectly capturing on camera life in Newmarket.

When the course was originally designed, they wanted an opportunity to showcase the students’ work so they created an evening exhibition, inviting various people from the industry to come and admire the work. This gave a prime opportunity to have a chance to present individuals with awards, which has now become a fiercely fought competition to win the covet titles of Photograph of the Year, Best Portfolio and then People’s Choice, voted for by everyone in attendance on the evening.

This year judges included Dan Abraham, Industry Photographer, Laraine Moody, Vice Principal, West Suffolk College and Richard Harvey from photography company Canon who supplied the main prize.

All the entries are currently on display at the National Horseracing Museum where you can admire the high caliber of work and see some stunning imagery of the home of horseracing.

For more information about this course and the work that NARS does, visit their website: https://www.naors.co.uk/