Meet the trainees - Shannon Cussen

Shíona Ní Chuisín is ainm dom. Rugadh mé i mbaile Atha Cliath i 1993. Tá mé i mo chonaí i gCilldara anois le mo thealach beag. Is é damhsa, ealaín agus as marcaíocht capaill mó caitheamh aimsire.
Ní raibh aon taithí faoi capall rás agam sular thusigh mé ag oiliúnt is ag traenail í R.A.C.E. Ag an ám sin thaitheann sé go mór mór liom capall a chur ag leim agus capall a bheidh ag eachtraíochta.
Liomaíocht mé i 1.20 leim lé mo chapall Varthago Van't Kiezelhof agus ghlac mé pairt í comórtas eachtraíochta freisin. Bhí mé ag traenáil le Neal Fearon agus Sandra Blake-Farrell.
Ní raibh capall ar bith í mo chlann thus go cheannaigh mó seamhathair capallín dom nuair a bhí mé trí bliann deag daois. Ach bhí cupla capallíní ag mó aintin i gCiarraí agus fuair mé cupla "ceart" í rith mo laethanta saoire ar na capalliní ó mo col ceathrair Noelle.
Bhí mo chead ceart agam nuair a bhí mé dha bhliann déag daois. Nuair a thug mo seanmháthair Dancer dóm mar bronntanas thusaigh mé ag léim i gcomórtas.
Í 2009 cheannaigh mé Varthago agus bhímid ag leim i 1.20 comórtas mar bhí sé tharr barr. Buaigh mé comórtas agus fuair mé ait i R.D.S comórtas. Is capall den chead scoth i Varthago.
Tá an suim agam i gcapaill agus is maith liom bheith ag marcíocht le luas, ar nós na gaoithe. Tá súil agam go mbeadh mé i mo marcach, ag marcaíocht sna Breeders Cup lá amhain. 

Parents Day 2012



Lights, camera, action….!!The Craig Doyle Show

The Craig Doyle camera crew came to visit us in RACE on the 9^th of October 2012.  Their goal was to get a snapshot of ‘A Day in the Life of a Trainee Jockey in the Racing Academy’.  The camera crew got footage of us trainees mucking out, tacking up and riding out on the gallops (our usual routine during the day).

Shannon (a fellow trainee) and I were chosen to go up to RTE studios to be on the Live Craig Doyle Show.  We got our make up done as soon as we arrived at RTE.  We then got shown to the green room, where we had to wait to go into the studio.  We met a few familiar faces in the racing industry here, such as the one and only Ruby Walsh.  On the show we got some great advice off Ruby Walsh, on what it’s like to be a jockey and how the racing industry isn’t an easy goal.  We then got the chance to ask Ruby some questions of our own to Ruby.  I asked Ruby was Rince Ri a memorable horse for him in his racing career, as I care for that horse now in RACE. He told me that Rince Ri was a memorable horse for him as his father, Ted Walsh, trained the horse and his biggest win was the ‘Ericson’ in 2000.Overall it was a great experience I really

enjoyed going up to RTE and meeting up with Ruby Walsh.  I’m grateful to RACE for providing me with this opportunity. Written by Lauren Farrelly.

Meet the trainees - John Keating

My name is John Keating, I’m from Kildare town, Co. Kildare. I’ve always loved horse and used to come to RACE and go on the simulators, I always knew that I wanted to be a jockey and after finishing fifth year for the second time I realised that school wasn’t for me and it was time to follow my dreams and apply for RACE. I worked in a yard for the whole summer in Richard Brabazon’s pre training and breaking yard. It was a great experience and only for that I wouldn’t even be able to tack up a horse but I knew I had to go somewere to further my skills and show what is needed to be a top worker and jockey. Getting in wasn’t easy but when I got that letter in my door it was the best moment of my life. After being here for nearly three months I realise that this is a hard industry to make it in and even harder without coming to a place like RACE.

It’s been a very hard three months but I know I’m improving on every aspect of what I do— from mucking out to riding even my manners have improved! The staff here are great they push you to your limits but you have to know its all for your benefit and safety around the horses, they also have a laugh and make it a nice place to live and work.



Interview for Craig Doyle show



'Moyglare Stud Stakes' Experience September 9th 2012

 

After the first week at RACE, a number of students were invited to assist in the ‘Moyglare Stud Stakes’ Race Day, an annual racing event which takes place at the Curragh racecourse every year.
On a bright and sunny September morning the excited trainees made their way to the Curragh racecourse. For many it was their first time to visit such a prestigious racing course. The nervous trainees gathered in the jockeys’ weighing room and waited to be allocated signs with the individual horses’ names written on them. Then came the moment of glory when the excited trainees got to lead the jockeys out to the parade ring. There were many photos taken of the trainees leading the jockeys out and the participating jockeys were good enough to autograph the signs afterwards. Rumour has it that one of the trainees even made a sizable profit in the whole process by selling his autographed sign to one of the trainers later that day!
We really enjoyed the day because we got to meet many famous jockeys and horses. It was great to meet jockeys such as Kevin Manning, Joseph O’ Brien, Ronnie Whelan, Gary Carroll, and Ben Curtis. We got to go inside the weighing room and a few jockeys threw out a few pairs of goggles for us and even gave us a few words of inspiration about our future racing careers. Overall it was a great introduction to the racing world!

By Wayne Harrison & Josephine Lynch.

Meet the trainees - Robert Dolan


 

Leading out for the Moyglare Stud Stakes



Robert Dolan  - Class of 2012/2013

My name is Robert Dolan. I am 16 years old and I’m from Kildare town right beside the Curragh Racecourse.
Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to become a famous jockey. My father was a jockey for Dermot Weld and my grandad was a great jockey in his day, winning many big races including the Irish St.leger and the Irish 2000 Guineas.
My father Robert Dolan, known to most as Bobby Dolan is a key man at Dermot Weld’s yard. He has inspired me a lot to become a jockey as I grew older. I started riding in 2011 and when I came to RACE, I didn’t know a lot about riding. I never actually rode a proper racehorse before I came to RACE, so I was nervous when I came here because I was afraid of people with more experience leaving me behind. After 8 weeks of RACE, I have learned a lot and that fear is long past me.
My favourite jockey is Frankie Dettori. I love how he is always so happy and smiling whenever you see him racing. He loves what he does and I admire him for that. When Frankie won the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2005 on Dubawi, I was there and it was a great experience because I actually got to talk to him afterwards! My favourite moment in horse racing was witnessing Grey Swallow win the Irish derby in 2004 because my father was Grey Swallows groom.
I hope that I will have my first winner by this time next year and I will give 110% of myself to make sure that happens.

Welcome to our blog

Welcome to 'The Daily Life of a Trainee Jockey at RACE' a blog about the day to day highlights of trainees as they work towards graduating from the 42 week FAS Trainee Jockey Course at the Racing Academy and Centre of Education. This blog aims to give an insight into what it is like for a Trainee Jockey as they face daily challenges while on the course.
This is our first post for our blog and we intend to have plenty of regular posts to follow. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to read about than please feel free to comment.
We hope you enjoy our blog and keep reading!

Class of 2012/2013