Kate Nipperess’s family will never forget the phone call they received on July 28, 2016. A head-on collision with a loose horse left their jockey daughter with severe injuries, requiring extensive surgery with an unknown outcome. 

“My family were left in a mess in the waiting room, being told they didn’t know what would happen to me or if I would make it through the surgery,” Miss Nipperess says. “I broke my neck, most of my ribs, my shoulder, both of my lungs and I was knocked unconscious.” 

While the family waited for surgery to finish, the Rev Colin Watts arrived and stayed by their side. Miss Nipperess thought she would never be able to ride again given the extent of her injuries, which left her wheelchair bound. However, she is now able to ride again, and aspires to compete in the 2024 Paralympics. 

Her story is a familiar one for Mr Watts, a former Sydney rector who has been a full-time racing chaplain with Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy for almost 15 years. Along with other chaplains in ARCC, he supports the wellbeing of people in Australia’s thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing industries, caring for their physical, spiritual, emotional and mental needs in a holistic and non-judgemental way.

“We’re there to support people who work in the racing industry, and that involves getting alongside them in whatever they’re going through in life,” Mr Watts says. “We do that because of our Christian conviction that God loves all people – and therefore people in racing – and that’s what drives us.

“It’s a huge industry and the needs are great… but there is tremendous acceptance and support for the chaplains.”

God believes in you

James Flavin, CEO of ARCC, observes that chaplaincy is “the way we get the love of Jesus to the people who would never darken the door of a church”.

“The racing industry is a dangerous one,” he adds. “People are hurt and people die. We have chaplains there. Ninety-five per cent of the time it’s for a quiet, simple chat, and 5 per cent it’s for when life is rotten, when relationships break down, when there are job issues, and [the need to] lead funerals.” 

There are over 160,000 people involved in the racing industry in Australia. According to McCrindle Research, in a 12-month period, ARCC chaplains attended 331 races, had more than 1000 pastoral conversations, responded to 35 critical incidents and directly ministered to 642 people – from those on the turnstiles to workers on the stud farm, owners, strappers, jockeys and trainers. 

Last year ARCC chaplains also visited 50 different people in hospitals across the country. 

There’s an awareness of mortality in this industry.

“Mostly it’s racing-related injuries,” Mr Flavin says. “Sometimes it’s one visit, sometimes it’s weekly visits for three to four years. The chaplains have earned the right to be there because they’ve been at the track [alongside people] on the coldest and wettest of mornings. They’ve been there for the straightforward chats, so they’re respected and trusted.”

In a world that seems so far away from church, conversations turn to Jesus really fast. “I was at a Melbourne track and a trainer said, ‘You won’t want anything to do with me, I don’t believe in God’,” Mr Flavin recalls. “My response was, ‘That’s okay, he believes in you’. We had a 90-minute chat about Jesus. There’s an awareness of mortality in this industry. That people die in the racing industry makes things a bit more acute.

“The hours are really hard. Most training happens very early and it’s seven days a week. I was in Scone last year with one of the workers of the studs, and I asked what Christmas Day looks like. He said, ‘We do everything we do in the morning, then we have a nice lunch, then do everything we would do in the afternoon’.” 

The racing industry is not without its critics, whether due to issues of animal cruelty or problem gambling. However, chaplaincy is incredibly valuable and a wonderful way that people can share the love of Jesus with those who may not otherwise have a chance to hear it.   

“One of the reasons sports chaplaincy is important, especially post-COVID, is because during COVID we realised how much we love community,” Mr Flavin says. “Sports is where the people are. It’s a place chaplaincy can thrive.”

The work of Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy 

160,000 Australians are involved in the racing industry as participants, employees or volunteers

There are 4019 trainers, 1044 jockeys, and 387 race clubs around the country

In a 12-month period, chaplains:

• attended 331 race meetings
• had 1059 pastoral conversations and interactions
• responded to 35 critical incidents
• attended 27 funerals or memorial services
• directly ministered to 642 people

Prayer points

• Pray for safety in the industry for all involved. Even with all the care and precautions taken, injuries happen and many are very serious. 
• Pray for the tenacity of chaplains as they dedicate many hours to walking alongside people and building genuine relationships. 
• On days when there is an injury, a death, or relational and life breakdown, pray that our chaplains will be a source of comfort and support and reflect the love of Jesus. 
• Pray that more people would be willing to volunteer as chaplains to the racing industry.