As the champagne flows and top hats return for Royal Ascot, Kia Joorabchian is gearing up for one of his favourite weeks on the racing calendar.
But before he steps onto the turf in Berkshire, he has a message to share—one that’s raw, honest, and aimed squarely at the heart of the sport he’s grown to love.
While most know him as the football powerbroker behind mega deals like Philippe Coutinho’s move from Liverpool to Barcelona, Joorabchian’s second love—horse racing—has become a huge part of his life.
And his voice in the industry is only getting louder.
From Big Deals to Big Investments in Racing
Since 2018, Joorabchian has been pumping serious money into British horse racing through his operation, Amo Racing.
So far, more than £80 million has gone into the sport, including £24 million splashed out at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale—where he outbid even legendary names like Coolmore and Godolphin.
He also purchased the iconic Freemason Lodge, once home to the Queen’s favourite trainer, and put millions into refurbishing it.
Despite the glitz, he’s not in it for the prestige alone.
For Joorabchian, there’s a much deeper motivation—and a lot of frustration.
The Secrets Racing Doesn’t Want to Talk About
“Racing is like a secret society,” he says bluntly. “A lot of things are hidden.”
While football airs its dirty laundry—why managers leave, who gets benched—racing, he argues, hides behind silence.
“If you part ways with a trainer, you’re not allowed to say why. Even if horses die or get injured—it stays hush-hush.”
He believes this lack of transparency is damaging. And it’s not just about horses.
Joorabchian speaks of two recent suicides in training yards—stories you won’t find in the headlines.
Mental Health and Low Pay in the Shadows
He’s deeply concerned about the welfare of the people behind the scenes: the stable lads, riders, secretaries, and ground staff.
“These people live week to week,” he explains. “They’re up at 4:30am, working until 2pm, often under tough conditions.”
He’s seen people turn to alcohol or drugs just to cope.
And when they’re caught, they’re sacked—not supported. “The cycle just repeats,” he says.
“There aren’t enough people in racing to begin with, and those who are struggling don’t get help.”
Racing’s Culture of Denial
Joorabchian doesn’t hold back when it comes to big-name trainers either.
He says many have looked the other way when dealing with addiction or mental health issues among staff.
“They cover it up because the person is valuable. In football, if someone got arrested, it would be a story. In racing—it’s silence.”
He also criticises the racing media for avoiding these hard truths.
“I did an interview with Nick Luck and tried to raise these topics—but they were brushed off. Nobody wants to confront it.”
Why Is Amo Always in the Headlines?
He believes his outsider status makes him an easy target.
“I didn’t renew my second jockey’s contract and the headline was ‘Kia sacks jockey’.
Meanwhile, a top trainer dropped his rider after one race, and it was no big deal.”
To him, there’s a fear of new voices challenging the norm.
“They want to control the narrative. I’m not from a privileged background—I had to earn everything.”
Declining Crowds and Dwindling Excitement
Joorabchian says the warning signs are clear. “Epsom had its lowest ever attendance this year. The energy was gone, the excitement flat.”
By contrast, he points to the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga, which he attended recently.
“It was buzzing. The biggest horses racing against each other, huge crowds, electric atmosphere. That’s what UK racing is missing.”
A Call for Transparency and Reform
What frustrates him most is the lack of clear information for fans and punters.
“In the US, you get videos of every breeze, training details, everything.
In the UK, unless you’re inside the sport, you know nothing.”
He wants openness about which stables gamble, how horses are training, and what’s really going on.
“It’s fine if trainers bet—but tell people, like a CEO announcing share trades. Why is it all a secret?”
Bookies Are Booming, But Racing Gets Left Behind
Another sore point: the massive profits of betting firms compared to what they give back. “Bet365’s CEO earned £95 million last year.
Why aren’t companies like that putting at least half a million each into charities like Racing Welfare?”
He argues that racing shouldn’t be the only sport missing out.
“In football, you could use those funds to support Championship and League One clubs too.”
Why He’s Still Fighting for the Sport
Despite his criticism, Joorabchian insists he isn’t here to tear things down.
“I’m not trying to disrupt anything. I love racing. I think it has huge potential. But we haven’t even scratched the surface.”
He’s proud of Amo Racing’s work in raising standards and making things more competitive.
One of his first projects? Renovating stable housing. “There was mould. Now, it’s high quality—TVs, WiFi, everything.”
A Future Vision for Horse Racing
As the interview wraps, Joorabchian’s passion is clear. “I want the sport to be open, honest, and competitive.
The gambling companies need to step up and support the people who make racing happen.”
He’s even launching a charity next year, inviting betting firms to contribute.
And if they don’t? “I’ll call it out. You made £600 million—two people died. Why aren’t you helping?”
In the end, he says, “I’m proud of what we’ve done this year.
We’ve raised the bar. Now I want to help the sport become what it truly can be.”