Meet The Trainees - Megan Hill

We are four months in to the 2015-2016 course. Trainees are getting on very well with some trainees already out in the mornings on work placement. As well as their typical day in RACE, they have had some time outside RACE visiting Kildangan Stud and the Irish National Stud and have had some well deserved R&R in Whitewater shopping centre in Newbridge. Certainly one of the many highlights for Trainees this year was a visit from Champion Jockey AP McCoy! They even got the chance to go to see 'Being AP' in the cinema which was nice after meeting the famous jockey in the flesh.

We hope that you enjoy meeting this years Trainees.

Hello, my name is Meg and I am 17 years old. It's a bit of a mystery as to where I got my interest in horses but I have loved them for as long as I can remember. When I was only 4 I recieved a rocking horse for Christmas and the rest is history! At 7 I got wind that there were horse riding lessons in my area and then the pestering began. I begged my parents to let me go and eventually Mum gave in. I rode there until I was 11 and then started working in the riding school, leading pony rides and mucking out stalls.

I started riding racehorses when I was 14 with Pat Martin's in Slane and this is where I recieved a mountain of knowledge. At the beginning I had to pay my dues. I spent most of my time mucking out and sweeping the yard. I'd also groom and look after the horses. I think once you can put up with that part, you know you really love it! Eventually Pat began to allow me to ride out, just warming up the horses first and then riding in the string on the gallop, but only on the very quiet horses. I knew there was so much for me to learn before I could progress on to the next level. I only ever rode two pieces of steady work in my time at Pat's, due to the fact that I was considered a weak rider at the time.

I applied for RACE when I was doing my Leaving Certificate. It had been in the pipeline for a long time. I had originally heard about RACE when I was 10 and it was a dream of mine to come here ever since. I remember the first time going to the races at the age of 7. It was arond Easter time. I get flashbacks of myself standing with Dad, like a sponge, taking it all in. I can remember Dad's very words "you know thats a Jockey" and my certain answer "Yes, that's what I'm gonna be".

While riding at Pats I met Emily Finnegan, a past graduate of RACE and she filled me in all about the trainee course here and urged me to attend the open day. So I did. I wont lie, there were numerous tantrums and arguments about the fact that I had to finish my Leaving Certificate before applying to RACE, but I am glad I made that decision now. While everybody was filling out college applications, I was busy, and quite happy, filling out my RACE application.

In June I recieved an acceptance letter for a trial week. Of course I was over the moon and not at all prepared for what I was yet to face. I went into that week thinking I was somewhat physically prepared for the road ahead. Oh how wrong was I?! That week was the most challegning week of my life. An emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I knew it was what I wanted to do, so everytime I was about to give up, I'd remember those words that were exchanged between Dad and I at the races and I kept going.

So enough about all the negatives. I think it is safe to say that, although it was extremely difficult, that week was one of the most epics weeks of my life also. I made so many great friends, friends that I now know are friends for life. I fell in love with the Curragh and didn't want to leave. That trial week inspired me to train twenty times harder and to become fitter and stronger. To take on the world. The wait for that letter was like being in purgatory. To make it better, when I did get my letter, I couldn't open it! I was so nervous. I eventually mustered up the strength to take a look and low and behold, I was accepted! I cried tears of joy for well over an hour. Everything that I had ever worked towards, all the negative opinions about what I would do for the rest of my life, all the arguments at home didnt matter anymore. I was in! I was going to get a shot at my dream.

This course is everything the trial week promised. It is so tough and will really push you to your limit. sometimes our days last up to 17 hours of non-stop activity but I think that this is the only way to get us prepared for being a jockey outside of the education centre. My dream is to become a National Hunt Jockey one day and thanks to RACE, I am one step closer to becoming that.

"Never let the thought of failure stop you from reaching your dreams"- Dr. Anthony Fernando

Riding demonstration for Family Day 2015

Megan (left) and Leona giving a Simulator demonstration and answering questions from the audience for the Sports & Business Network Tour 2015

Meet the trainees - James Farrelly

My name is James Farrelly and I am 16 years old. I never sat on a horse until 2012 where I did lessons in Maghra, Virginia. A man called Shane Costello wanted me to do showjumping but in my head I wanted to be a jockey, so he thought me the basics of riding like a jockey. My grandad is very into racing and I used to sit down with him and watch it so that inspired me. He got me a job in a local yard with Michael Mulvany where I spent my Saturday’s working and anytime I could. I really enjoy it out there and I still go out on the weekend.

I applied for RACE and I had lots of help behind me. I had a hard week trail, I worked so hard and it payed off, I got in!

Meet the trainees - Conor Heavey

I was always interested in watching and betting on horse racing but I never rode a horse in my life until 4 weeks before the week trial. I had no family or even friends that were doing any type of work with horses at all.

My hobby was boxing which I did for 4 years and was only 7 stone 4lbs so I thought to myself I’d try the trial and see how it goes, after doing the 4 weeks of lessons.

I came to the trial and got on the course. I was delighted I had a chance to start something I was interested in.  With not much experience I was quite afraid at the start because everyone on the trial was really good and experienced.  The first day was even worse, I was so nervous but after the first week I loved it so much.

The start was easy but then we got into the course and things stared to get hard, we had to get up earlier, muck out more box’s, ride more lots and start schooling horses more.  But now after learning so much from the 4 instructor’s I am finding it easier and easier everyday and I love the course.
I’m still here in the yard and probably wont be sent out until the last lot but I like it that way so that the instructors can teach me more and more everyday and help build my confidence for me to improve my chances in the sport and help me get a full time job and hopefully one day become a Jockey.

Conor was sent on out to Paul Deegan on 30th March 2015

Training on the Curragh

Meet the trainees - Jamie Colgan

I was about 8 or 9 when I first got interested in racehorses. I used to go to all the flapping meetings with my 1st cousin Ronan and then when Ronan got a bit older he moved on down to Jim Bolgers yard and became and apprentice for him. So when Ronan gave up the flapping I then stopped going and lost interest in  the horses altogether until I was about 13 / 14 when I became friends with a lad that was just after finishing RACE called Shane Quinlan and being out and about with Shane and the horses inspired me to get back into them. So myself and Shane used to be out messing around on the ponies and going to the hunting and things and we were talking all about when he was in RACE and it sounded great coming from someone who had already been through the academy. So then myself and my teachers in school thought it would be a great opportunity for me as I am light but a little tall, but racing is about your weight not height.

When I went over to RACE on the open day I knew from that day when I got the tour of the place that I loved it!  I got my application form and came for the tria and busted a gut and gave it 100% and thank god things went well and I was called back for the 2014/15 year.

Even though I rode a few ponies, I still had very little riding experience with racehorses so I got into Mark Faheys for 1 month before I came to RACE and I got to ride out 2 / 3 lots a day until RACE started and I am in RACE now and still with Mark on the weekends and he is great to me and fills me with confidence. He shows that he has an interest in me because he has let me ride 2 peaces of work for him and says I have come on a hell of a way since the first day he saw me.

When I am finished RACE, I hope to get an Amateur License and ride a couple of bumper and point to points and get a few winners under my belt and head over to England to my favourite trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
Jamie was placed with Christy Roche on 20th January 2015

After Schooling Training 

Out on the Curragh October 2014

Meet the trainees - Sinead Corrigan

My name is Sinead Corrigan, I’m 19 years old and I was born in Dublin.  I started riding horses when I was 6 years old.  My cousin had horses so that’s what started me off.  I had two ponies and I just did a bit of showing and showjumping with them.  When I finished my junior cert, I wanted to go to RACE but my Mam and Dad wanted me to stay in school and do my leaving cert. So when I finished my leaving cert I decided to do a year in some sort of Equine Studies wherever I could find or get into.
I went to Pipers Hill College to do a horsemanship course and studied Anatomy and Physiology, Breeding and Nutrition.  On a Thursday and Friday I went to work placement in Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital on the Curragh.  I learned so much over the year. I stayed on there after I finished college and helped around doing things such as setting up the surgery and going on call outs to different yards around the Curragh.  I stayed working for a little while in Sycamore Lodge doing the jobs I was doing on work placement and a couple of nights making sure a mare and foal were okay during the night.
When I left Sycamore Lodge I applied for RACE and when I found out I got my place on the course I was delighted.
Since coming to RACE in September 2014 I have really enjoyed every aspect of the course.  In the mornings we exercise the yard horses with our instructors train us in all aspects of riding to be a competent jockey, including riding on the gallop here at RACE and the Curragh.  I especially love jumping out of the starting stalls.
I am going out on my work placement to Michael Halfords at the end of this month and I am looking forward to meeting new people and riding new horses.

I will be graduating from RACE at the end of June.

Sinead has started her placement and is doing well.

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Training on Curragh in November 2014

Meet the trainees - Jack Collins

I don’t come from a horsey background. The first time I sat up on a horse was at a friend’s house at the age of 14, his mother was a horse dealer who kept a lot of show jumping ponies and horses. Once I got over the initial fear of them I started to get obsessed with horses and every chance I got I would be in the yard. I started  showjumping at shows in every corner of the country, first at the lower levels and eventually I got to jump a few big classes. It was all great and much needed mileage! During the off season I would hunt whatever horses I could get a hold of, many being young and even a bit hardy so I learnt a lot from it.

When I came to the RACE open day I wasn't interested in being a jockey but I was hoping to look at the farrier school which was where I had hoped to go. When I listened to the director talk about the trainee jockey course I was hooked straight away and by the end of the briefing I had no interest in looking at the farrier school.

It was then that I turned my attention to getting into a jump yard, so I applied to RACE and then started working in Michael Hourigans in Co. Limerick. It was there that I got my first experience with racehorses and I gained a lot of experience from riding out with good jockeys like Adrian Heskin. When I was in school doing my leaving Cert I decided it would make more sense to be in a local yard as I would be limited on the time I would have so I started riding in Declan McNamara’s yard just 5 minutes down the road from my house in Co. Clare. It was great to be in a yard where I was allowed to school and ride work and it done my confidence the world of good.

When I came to RACE I was very impressed with the facilities and all the help that was at hand. I can’t think of any other place that will help you this much with your riding. I am now out in work placement in John Oxx’s yard and I absolutely love it, it’s great to be riding good horses everyday and to be working with such helpful people.

I hope to progress my riding as much as I can before the end of the course and afterwards I’ll keep my head down and keep working and hopefully the lucky breaks will come. I hope to take what I have learned about diet, fitness and yard routine and always remember it wherever I am after the course.

RACE Gallops in September

Jack leading the string on RACE Gallops

Trainees try out Rock Climbing

Meet the trainees - Lauren Gorevan

I am from Ardclough and celebrated my 16th birthday in December 2014.  Before I started in RACE I did a lot of horse riding in Jane Foley’s in Castle Warden Co. Kildare.

I started horse riding at 7 years of age and got lessons every Saturday and Sundays and did a lot of hunting and hunter trials and a bit of I.P.S.
While in RACE, during the Christmas holidays I went to a trainer Tom Taffee’s yard, I worked there for the 2 weeks and got a job on the weekends and learned a lot while I was there.

I was always interested in racing and went to Puncherstown races and more meetings over the years. When I got in to secondary school I started to get really focused and wanted to go to Racing Academy.
I always looked up to Johnny Murtagh because he went from never riding racehorses until he went to RACE and then went to John Oxx and then was top jockey for him!
I am trying to gain a lot of more knowledge of racing and trying to improve my style of riding and to get stronger on the horses.  I hope to go to a good yard, get a lot of experience and get my licence and become an Apprentice.
When I went for the trials in RACE it was competitive and I didn’t know if I was going to be accepted. When I got my letter I was nervous to open it and when I opened it I was delighted when I saw that I got in.
 I knew it was the place to be when I started and I knew I had to keep my head down and work hard to get what I want.  

RACE Gallops in September

Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - Daryl Ralph

My name is Daryl Ralph im 18 years old and from Dublin.  I've always had an interest in horses, since a young age I use to ride bareback. 

I got in interest in racing when I was about 16 when I was in my house and my granddad was watching  ‘At The Races’, I new then that I wanted to be a National Hunt Jockey.  I’m in RACE since September but only back riding since Christmas as I had a fall on the third day that we started.  I enjoy RACE it’s a good laugh with everyone. 

I did weekend work with pre-trainer Richard Brabazon and he helped me improve my riding. A few of the workers out there came through RACE and were telling me about it so I applied, did my 1 week trial and was delighted to get accepted.

My favourite jockey is Paul Carberry. I hope to be as good as him one day!

Training on the Curragh March

Meet the trainees - Matthew Lynch

My name is Matthew Lynch. I am from Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary. My father has been working in Coolmore since I was born so I was born straight into racing really.
Growing up on the Stud was unbelievable, I would be walking my dog down the fields leaving him hunt away and I’d go over and look at the Mares and see if I’d recognise any of them. Last year the dam of Frankel (Kind) was in the field beside my house along with Midday another superstar race mare. So it’s unbelievable in that aspect!

I was always very keen on racing and was inspired by Johnny Murtagh. When I was 12 years old I asked Johnny Cummins a local pre-train point to point yard for a summer job and he let me! Johnny had a couple of nice horses and he thought me the basics and everything I needed to know.  After a year of working weekends and any holidays I had working with Johnny he got me set up to ride out as well for Mattie Tynan after his.
Dixie Sheehan is the main man in Tynans and he thought me to ride flat horses like two year olds and fresh older horses. He thought me how to settle the younger horses which was a lesson I never forgot. After a while working for Dixie his confidence obviously grew in me because he gave me my first piece of work to ride for him.

During third year we had our careers guidance teacher ask us what we wanted to be when we were older and I was certain on my answer being a jockey. I had already heard of RACE through other riders that you would meet along the way and I looked it up online to see for myself.
After my junior cert and after seeing RACE at the open day I was looking forward to my week’s trial in July. When I was accepted I was over the moon and straight away started working on my fitness after being warned by our fitness instructor!! After starting the course I met everyone and the first morning down in the yard I realised how stiff the competition was! From the start I was in group A and was thought under the eye of Barry Walsh, he thought me that technique was always above strength and I worked towards building up my technique under his watchful eye.

In the middle of November I was sent to Michael Halfords yard Copper beach Stables and I was absolutely delighted and was very excited to start!  I’m in Halfords 4 months now and I feel my riding has come on an awful lot thanks to Mr. Halford letting me ride the yearlings and nice older horses. His team in the yard are extremely helpful and are always dead on with you! It’s great to be part of a yard that does so well on the track but is one of the nicest yards to ride out in. This Summer Id like to go to England to a top yard like Richard Hannons for two or three weeks for another experience which would set me up to get my licence hopefully for a nice yard back home.
My weight is good at the moment and is still ok for the flat but I’m quite tall and see myself going over jumps in the future after a couple of seasons. I have decided to go back to school in September to have a leaving cert under my belt, but I could have my licence still for any weekend rides or Friday night rides, that would be the plan hopefully!!

RACE Gallops September

Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - David O'Brien

I live in Ballincollig in co cork. I became involved with horses when my Dad brought me to hunt and to points to point meetings. I rode my Dad’s friends pony for a season of hunting before buying my own pony which I hunted and pony raced for two seasons.

I gained huge experience before I rode out in John J Murphy’s on weekends and holidays and then started working full time during the summer of 2014. I learn loads in John Murphy’s, such as riding different types of horses such as flat and national hunt. I also learned to jump out of stalls.

I came to RACE in September after a week’s trail where I was accepted for a place on the course.  I was down in the RACE barn for the start of the course and learned to be more stylish as a rider and I learned about horse welfare.

 I was sent out in the first group on work placement. I was sent out to Michael D O Callaghan where I am enjoying myself and learning lots!

RACE Gallops 

Training on Maddenstown Gallops

Meet the trainees - Siobhan Rutledge

My name is Siobhan Rutledge, I am 16 years old and I live just outside Ashbourne in County Meath. I’ve always had an interest in horses as my Dad was a jockey and trained a few point to point horses and my grandmother has bred horses in the past.

When I was 4 years of age, my brother and I were blessed with the gift of a little black welsh pony, he stood about 11 hands high, but was far too big for his boots. We called him harry after the man we bought him from. We had a little donkey called taxi who I’d ride up the field in the evenings after school. My brother eventually lost interest in riding horses, but I was hooked.

I took a few riding lessons at the age of 10 which helped me get the basics of horse riding, but gave up the lessons soon after because the horses were not fast enough! After saving up I bought Sweeney Todd, a 6 year old Connemara pony off a family friend, who I still have today. She is 13.2 hands high and is the best thing since sliced bread as far as I’m concerned.  I still had a great interest in racing, and did a few local pony races with Sweeney Todd that didn’t amount to much more than a fun day out for the family.

 Just before my 16th birthday, I decided I’d apply for RACE. Never in a million years did I think I’d be accepted, but I headed down for the trial in July hoping for the best. They had us doing all sorts on the trial; I don’t think I’ve pulled as much weeds in my life! I loved my week down in RACE and knew then that it was the place to be.
The acceptance letter came late, on the 11th of August, 3 days before my 16th birthday having just completed my Junior Cert in Ashbourne Community School. I was so nervous, but I knew I couldn’t have tried any harder on the trial. I was delighted to find out I got in and since then I’ve spent the last 5 months in the good hands of our four instructors Barry Walsh, Niall Byrne, Paul Keating and Paul Geoghegan who have been teaching me the tricks of the trade.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet 31 amazing people who I’ll stay in touch with forever. We’ve all grown so close over the last few months and I know I’ll be devastated at the end of the course. All of the teachers are absolutely lovely as are our supervisors who have kept an eye on us. I’m looking forward to being sent out to a yard, and hopefully graduating in June.

On RACE Gallops in September

Schooling at RACE

Meet the trainees - Ryan Bates

My name is Ryan Bates and I celebrated my 18th birthday last August. I’m from Wexford which would be known as a good place for yards and horses. Before coming to RACE I rode out in a few yards around my home town. Jamie cod only lives a few minutes away from my house and so does Benny Walsh.
I started out horse riding when I was 7 and ever since that day I wanted to be a jockey. My friend put me up on his pony called Polly, a Connemara, I jumped a few ditches and I said that I was going to become a jump jockey because there is  more of a ‘buzz’ in jump racing rather than flat racing.
As I got older I was riding in point to point yards where I got loads of experience and built up a lot of muscle and style. I schooled a lot of horses and I schooled in a really good place called The Railway Gallops in Wexford.
When I was in school I went to a career guidance meeting in my local school one night and I went to talk to Jamie Cod as I wanted to become a jockey and he told me what the best thing to do was and where I should go and he mentioned the RACE Academy in Kildare. I looked up RACE and I read through the information about it and I was really interested in going there. I sat down with Jamie and I said I was going to be a jump jockey as he is one and he told me that it’s a really hard life but when you are good you will do really well and in my head I was thinking that I should go to RACE. I got really good advice from Jamie which really helped me.
I went for the trail and I really tried hard to get in and I got called back for a place so I was really happy that I got in and  it’s a stepcloser to become a jockey.
When I started in RACE I was in the RACE yard for 3 months riding out one to two lots everyday. We rode out different horses most days and schooled a good few too. We rode out in the outdoor arena for a few weeks to get better and to get ready to go on the gallop. We went on the gallop and we schooled normally only once or twice a week so it was good because the horses would only get fed up of the same thing all week.
Near the end when we were being sent out to yards we went out on Maddenstown Gallops and we went at a faster pace than we would on the RACE gallop.
A few weeks later 10 of us from RACE got sent out to different yards. I got sent out to Alan Flemings which is just a few minutes away from RACE over by Tracy Collins and Paul Deegan.

I really like the yard I’m in and I am learning loads and getting loads of experience. I ride out with John Fitz and Adrian Heskin so I've learned a lot from them while riding out with them..

RACE Gallops earlier in the year

Practice shots on the Golf Simulator at Christmas

Meet the trainees - Hayley O'Sullivan

I started riding ponies when I was 11 years old in West Cork and it came very naturally to me. None of my family had ever had any interest in horses or horse racing so it was a bit of a shock when I started horse riding and when I told them I was applying for RACE.

Within the first year I was breaking in young horses, had been hunting, show jumping, cross-country and pretty much everything in between. When I was 13 / 14years of age I did two seasons of Southern Pony Racing and rode ponies for Tyner’s in Cork which I really enjoyed. I loved the thrill of the race and the speed we went at. I then moved on from pony racing to trotting races for 2 seasons which I also thoroughly enjoyed.
I was then employed by a local trekking yard to take tourists out on treks and give lessons to children which was a bit more easy going and the horses were a lot easier to ride.

I then took a year out of riding when I was 17 and went to college and soon realised it wasn't for me and applied for RACE as soon as I could. I was delighted when I got my letter telling me I was accepted to the week’s trial in June. The trial was every tough but I tried my heart out and was very lucky as it all paid off after a very hard 3 weeks of waiting and waiting everyday for the letter to come and  then the letter came and I had been accepted! I was ecstatic and couldn't wait for the 1st of September to begin.
I was nervous to meet the new people and the ride the horses after I’d been out of the saddle for what felt like a life time but we all soon settled in and became very close friends and got very comfortable around the yard.
The fitness was difficult in the beginning but it didn't take us long to get into the swing of things with great facilities such as our own gym and simulator room which we can use any evening we want in our own time.
I am delighted with the course and how its all going and I am looking forward to see what the future brings to me when I have completed the course.

Hayley was sent out on work placement in Ken Condon’s Yard on the 19th of January 2015.

Hayley on week 3 of the course

Training on RACE Gallops

Meet the trainees - Adrian Fitzgerald

My name is Adrian Fitzgerald I am 16 years old I am originally from Charleville Co. Cork but I would nearly consider myself to be from Caragaline as I spent most of the last 2 and a half years there in Ivor Kingston’s yard.  Ivor started me off in the best way I could have hoped for. He looked after me and shaped me into the rider I am today and if it wasn't for him and Denis Payten I would never be in RACE.
Denis gave me a lot of good rides in the flaps which gave me valuable experience. The two of them have been very good to me.

It all started for me when I was 6 years old, I wanted to be a Jockey like my Uncle Mick Fitz and I started going to Crocora Equestrian Centre for lessons.  I first heard about RACE from my Mother, so when I researched the place I thought it looked very good to improve my riding and when I finished my Junior Cert I applied and headed up to the Curragh. I was used to being away from home from staying down with Ivor over my school holidays and weekends.

I have many great and mad memories from Ivor's yard and I miss not being able to be there as much now that I am in RACE but I try to go out there as much as I can. Ivors yard is like no other, for a start he has a dogs that can watch television and ride ponies and donkeys! Where else would you see it!
Every time I go down there I look forward to riding the horses cause at this stage they’re like family. I especially love Dr Massini who is yet to see the race track, we call him Vinnie cause he is related to the infamous Viaduct who won a number of races in England and Ireland. I also love riding Hi Ridge Wood Ben. A friend of my late step father was the man who got me the job at Ivor’s and started me on this road which has been the best time of my life, and there are many more good times to come.

I have been sent out to Paul Deegans from RACE where I am really enjoying myself and I’m finding the experience really great!

My favourite Jockeys are Davey Russel, Tom Queally and Gavin Sheehan.

Heading out to Maddenstown

Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - Sadhbh Gannon

My name is Sadhbh Gannon I’m 16 years old and I’m from Westport in county Mayo. I don’t come from a ‘horsey’ family so I don’t know where my interest in horses came from!   But for as long as I can remember I have always been riding horses. I've always had a huge interest in them and have been lucky to have the support and opportunities to be able to work with horses.

At home in Westport I spend all of my free time riding horses for other people, competing them, and also riding my own pony preparing him for competitions all over the country. I compete in Showjumping, Eventing and Hunter trials and have been a member of the Irish Pony club for 5 years. I’ve always liked horse racing and I became really interested in it through a friend who has a very keen interest in it and told me a lot about it and bringing me along to our local racecourse in Ballinrobe regularly which I loved.

 In 2012, through Pony club, I came to RACE for a weekend which I thought was brilliant! After that my 16th birthday couldn't come quick enough so I could finally get the chance to try out for the Trainee Jockey course. I spent the whole summer after my Junior Cert preparing for the trial in July, doing as much exercise as I could to be fit enough to give myself a good chance on the trial. The trial was tough but I thought it went well. I knew that I had tried hard and I was exhausted afterwards!  I got word in August that I had been accepted on the course! I couldn't believe it and I was over the moon!
The course is going well so far and I’m really enjoying it.  Its hard work, but I really enjoy it. Working in the yard in RACE was brilliant I learned so much and I got much quicker around the yard and learned a lot about riding all kinds of different horses. My fitness improved greatly and I enjoyed every bit of it.

 I started my work experience at Michael Halford’s yard. I get up at half five every morning and get the bus at 6:20 am we start on the yard at 7:00 am. It is a wonderful yard and I really enjoy working with the horses and working on the yard everyday.

It is a once in a lifetime experience!

Sadhbh practicing coming out of stalls on Curling Bird

Training on Maddenstown Gallops earlier in the year

Meet the trainees - Peter Coleman

I celebrated my birthday in June 2014, I am 16 years old and I am from Dundalk Co.Louth.

I didn't have much experience with horses to date but as a kid I followed a lot of racing on TV. Since I was about 10 years of age I always wanted to be a jockey. Even though my family is not involved in racing my Dad always had a big interest in horses.
I first sat on a racehorse at the age on 14. Ever since I first sat up on a horse I loved it and all I had in my mind was to be a jockey.
I always new about RACE and was always planning to go when I finished my Junior Cert and had turned 16. My teachers told me about RACE also.

I started in RACE on the 1st of September and I was very nervous but excited but to be starting in RACE.

I love it here in  and I am looking forward to the future now.

Heading out to Maddenstown Gallops earlier in the year

Peter training on the Curragh

Meet the trainees - Ellen Hennessy

My name is Ellen Hennessy.  I will be 17 in June.  I’m from Naas Co. Kildare.  I have been riding since I was 5 years old. Before I came to RACE I had ponies at home and I did everything from show jumping to hunting and mounted games.  I rode out for trainer Michael Cleary for a summer 2 years ago. While I was in school I worked weekends in Corduff Stud just down the road from me. I worked there for nearly 2 years before I came to RACE. I learned lots in the stud, preparing the yearlings for sales and mares and foals.  I have ridden in the RDS in 2014 and 2012 playing mounted games on my pony.
I applied for the course in the summer of 2014 and was accepted for the trial in July. The trial was really tough but I tried my best and was accepted into the course. The course started on the first of September and for the first 3 months we were in the RACE yard riding their horses, most of the horses in the RACE yard are retired.  We would ride one or 2 lots a day and we would also use the simulators or do some stable management.  I loved riding out in the RACE barn it was good craic and the instructors are very good. You learn a lot in RACE, everyday is a school day here!

In November I was sent out to Kevin Prendergast yard on work placement.  I love it out there and although I’m the only girl in the yard it is good craic. The horses are all very good and it is a great experience working out there.  Every morning when we get up I have to get the bus at 6:20am and get to the yard at about 6:30 even though we don’t start until 7:00am.  When I get to the yard I empty all the water buckets and make sure all the horses are okay. When I’m finished I get my barrow of hay and muck out two or three boxes, give the horses hay and water and sweep in the stable.
Then I go and get my tack and see what horse I’m riding, I go and tack up my horse and make sure that there is no dirt or straw in their mane or tail.  When we are all ready we get a leg up and go out to the gallop. We do about two laps of the gallop and then walk the horses off.  Then we untack our horses and bring them for a roll in the sand arena. And wash their legs afterwards.  We then bring them back and give them a groom over.  We usually have about 5 or 6 horses to ride each day.

I am really enjoying the course so far and would recommend it for anyone to do as it is a great learning experience and so much fun.

Ellen on RACE gallops Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - David Sweeney

Hello! my name is David Sweeney and I am from Kildorrery Co. Cork. I am 19 years old.

From the age of 11 or 12 I got an interest for horses and racing as the local point to points were held only across the road. Straight away I was ‘bitten by the bug’.

The point to points were held on my neighbours stud farm and whenever I had any spare time I would head across to my neighbours yard and help out around the barn. After awhile I took up riding lessons in Killavullen Co. Cork and learned a lot. The lessons became too expensive so I had to give them up but that didn’t stop my love of horses.

Every school holiday I would head down to my neighbours yard to help and I started riding a hunter below there. I found out about the Racing Academy from my boss and about him telling me that he tried to get in but he was too heavy. I tried to persuade my parents to let me go to RACE as soon as I was 16, but no, they told me that I had to stay in school and get my Leaving Cert and to be honest it was the best decision I ever made to date.

I’m very glad I stayed in school as it helped me to mature because I think if I was to have gone to RACE at 16 I don’t think I would have been able for the responsibilities of being out in the ‘big bad’ world at such a young age.

So anyway, I stayed in school and got a good leaving cert and I am now a trainee in RACE. After this course I hope to pursue my interest in point to pointing and take out an Amateur Licence. I have also earned my place in college in Galway so I hope to take that on full time in September 2015. At the moment I am enjoying my time in Co.Kildare as it has helped me open my eyes in the Thoroughbred Industry and also it has helped me at home by applying what I have learned into working with a local trainer.

David on RACE Gallops - Parents Day 2014

Training - Indoor Arena

Meet the trainees - Niamh Cassidy

My name is Niamh Cassidy and I am from Celbridge in County Kildare.  I am nineteen years of age and completed my leaving certificate last year.  For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with horses and horse racing; much of my childhood was spent looking at the pictures in the Racing Post and learning the names of all the famous horses!  My favourite horse when I was little was a grey called One Man.  

My interest in horse racing comes from my Dad; he’s always had a few horses in training and he taught me so much about handling horses and the horse racing industry.  When I was sixteen he finally agreed to let me ride out, but only the quiet horses that didn’t pull too hard!

When I was in sixth year I decided to apply for RACE because I wanted to get more experience riding different horses and become a better rider.  I was invited to go on a week’s trial in July, which was undoubtedly one of the toughest weeks of my life!  The trial was very competitive and I wasn’t confident of securing a place at all, so I was absolutely delighted when I received a letter in the post on the 11th of August confirming that I had been accepted on the course.

We are currently on week 21 of the course, which is scary. The time is flying by! There is only 42 weeks altogether, so we are just about half way there.  I am really enjoying my experience at RACE so far.  I have learnt an awful lot from the instructors in the barn, my riding has definitely improved and I hope to continue improving throughout the year.  As well as learning more about horses and riding, I think all of us have learnt more about ourselves.  We have to work hard, remain focused and dedicated, and it helps that we can motivate each other.

I have made so many new friends here since the start of the year and have great craic with the four girls in my dorm: Sadhbh, Hayley, Amy and Siobhán.  We’re probably all going to cry on our last night in the blue dorm!

After I graduate from RACE in June I hope to get a job riding out for the summer and at weekends when I start college in September.  I would love to get a Qualified Rider’s license in the future so that I could ride in point to points and bumpers, and hopefully ride a few winners on the racetrack!
I have gained invaluable skills and knowledge here at RACE this year and it is definitely an experience I will never forget!

Niamh (right) with fellow trainee Siobhan

Niamh Schooling at RACE

Meet the trainees - Sean Davis

My name is Sean Davis, im 16 and born and raised in Maynooth Co.Kildare. I had no background with horses until my cousin knew a man who was looking for someone to muck out in a small point-to-point yard in County Meath, where I started off mucking out, feeding and watering.

My boss, Sean, was a farmer so I got working on the farm with him and I learned a lot about animals and disease and understanding animals, which does help when working with horses. After about 6 months there I started to ride out. I rode 2 mares, a 16.3, 6 year old black mare by Whitmore’s Conn and a small dark bay 4 year old  mare, she kept me awake, she was mad as a brush!

I got along very well with my boss and his wife and their grandchildren who were only young and I would work there in the afternoons after school and stay there over the weekend.
After 2 years there Sean told me about RACE and how Jockey Gary Halpin, who started with him  went to RACE and was an apprentice to Kevin Prendergast and such talented jockeys  like Johnny Murtagh, who I really looked up to and Slim O’Neill and many more, were trainees at the Academy.

So I decided I wanted to go and my Mother and Father got me the application forms and I applied. I went to the open day and from then I knew I’d love it. When I got accepted for the week trial I was excited but nervous. The week trial was tough trying to prove your better than the 60 people who were also accepted.  I felt happy after the trial because I gave it my all and when I got accepted for the course I was over the moon. I taught the day would never come!

The craic does be good and everyone seems to get along, it would be tough living with 30 people that you didn’t get along with so we all try to get along.  So far RACE has gone really well for me and my riding has improved well. I have learned a lot about racing and the people involved with it.

I was sent out to Michael O’Callaghan’s yard and I am very happy there, It is a great experience. Hopefully by next year I will be signed on as an apprentice to a trainer.

I have met so many people and made some good friends. The staff here at RACE are very nice and it has been a great experience so far.

Sean on RACE Gallops - Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - Shane Mulcahy

My name is Shane Mulcahy, I am 16 years old since September. I have grown up on the outskirts of Tipperary town.  I don’t come from a racing background but I have a cousin, Jerry O Dwyer, who came through RACE in 1998.  
I played a lot of hurling and football for my local club but I have been riding ponies at home from a very young age.  I always watched racing on TV and went to any point to points and race meeting that were on locally.  At a younger age I had a greater interest in GAA but about 4 years ago I lost interest in it and got the ‘notion’ of wanting to be a jockey.

I started riding in Seamus O' Donnnel's yard outside Tipperary Town where I began to pick up plenty of experience along the way, Many people in the racing industry told me that “riding racehorses is just like a bug, once you start you don’t get rid of it very easily”, I rode out for Seamus for the bones of a year and then went to ride hunters and sport horses for Pat Ryan, father of Michael Ryan the International Eventer for the summer.  The following December I started riding out for Con Marnane of Bansha House Stables where I dramatically improved my riding with the help of other riders in the yard especially John Halligan. 

I have gotten a lot of opportunities from Con including riding work in the yard going to breeze up sales in Newmarket and riding around Dundalk and Tipperary Racecourses a few times and I also spent the summer riding out in Maisons Lafitte France.  I still ride out for Con on Saturday mornings and any holidays I have from RACE. 

Since I started RACE in September I had still plenty room for improvement and thankfully I have improved my riding with the great help of all the riding instructors here in RACE. I have been told by many people in the Racing Industry that “there is always room for improvement when it comes to riding racehorses”. 

I was sent to Conor O’ Dwyer’s yard on work placement where I am well settled in now at this stage. The early mornings don’t bother me as I love working with horses and it is a pleasure going into the yard every morning.  There are very nice people working in Conor’s and there are a lot of nice horses there too. 

My parents give me great support and will help me in any way they can by carting me here and there and as my father always says to me when I ask him for a lift to work early in the morning “If I have to take you to the moon I will” and I am very thankful for that.   

In the future I would love to get out a licence and get as many rides as I possibly can and maybe one day I could become professional with the help of god.

Shane schooling at RACE

Shane schooling upsides

Meet the trainees - Katie Lawless

My name is Katie Lawless, from Clonaslee, Co. Laois and I am 19 years of age. 

I’d gotten the interest in horses from my Mum who used to loan a horse when I was younger and I got free rides on the riding school pony and was then taught how to ride. After moving from various riding schools and slowly learning more and more about how to ride, our family moved to Ireland and I got my first pony! He was a 12.2hh dun pony and at the age of 29, all he ever wanted to do was gallop and buck! Luckily for me, this taught me how to cling on because he was so cheeky! Even when I went to my very first show with him, before I even got to the show ring, he had a mad bucking fit and dumped me on my head! Needless to say I didn’t do my class in the end!

From then on, I got more and more horses and learnt to break and produce them myself and then sell them on.

The only time I’d ever really been in contact with racehorses is when I went on work experience in Transition Year, to Anngrove Stud in Mountmellick, Co. Laois and at that it was handling the stallions -  Robin Des Pres, Pilsudski and Rudimentary. Other than this I have never ridden a racehorse, or been to a trainer’s yard etc. 

I got the idea of coming to RACE when I was riding my own thoroughbred mare and doing fitness work for the upcoming eventing season, I loved the adrenaline and the speed!

When I had first read the letter that I had gotten into RACE, I was thrilled but nervous! I thought that I’d be the only one who didn't know anything about the Racing Industry and in actual fact – I wasn't! Everyone is different here and we have all come from different backgrounds in the horsey industry and some of us haven’t had much experience with horses at all! Its great because this means that everyone gets a chance! 

The first group of trainees were sent out in the end of November, and luckily enough I was one of them! I was sent out to Dermot Weld’s bottom yard (Rathbride) and so far I’m loving it! It is tough but that’s the industry for you, its there to test you to see if you’re strong enough to make it! 

We start work at 7:30am, go in to the tack room to see what we’re riding for the day, grab our tack and mucking out utensils and put it outside the door of our first lot, then go and get the straw & hay and put that outside the doors of our horses that we’re riding that day. 

Then we go into the stable, groom the horse, tack up and then muck out. The head lad then calls us and we all pull out and head into the barn and get legged up and ready to go! We have a quick trot around and check they’re all okay and plus to warm them up, then we head out to the gallops! So far with the yearlings/just turned 2yos, they get two laps of the gallops and then a long walk to cool them back down. 

The course is tough but if you push yourself, the it really is all worth it! I had no idea what to expect and now I'm currently loving the Racing Industry.

Katie Schooling at RACE

Meet the trainees - Scott McTiernan

My name is Scott McTiernan and I am from Co. Sligo. I will be turning 18 this month. 

Since I was very young I had a keen interest in horses. I started riding as soon as I was allowed to sit on a horse at a local riding school. I am very grateful that my parents supported me by bringing me to lessons so that I could learn to ride. My parents have no major love for horses, so I respect that they supported me so much.

I was told when we moved to the countryside that if I saved my money I could buy a pony. So from when I was told I was allowed a pony, I saved €2,500.00 so that we could head to the Cavan sales. This is when the horses really took off for me. 

My parents were kind enough to build me stables and allow me to get more horses as the years went on. The horses we had at home were mainly showjumpers and showjumping was a major thing for me. I learned a lot from showjumping and gained a lot of experience. I worked my summer holidays away from home and then got the experience to travel to England. I still keep horses at home whilst in RACE which I ride every weekend and my parents and brothers take care of them during the week.

My experience in RACE so far has been great and it will only get better! I have learnt so much under the thoughtful eye of Barry, Niall and Paul. When I started off in RACE I found it extremely difficult to make the transition from showjumpers to getting on a racehorse and looking neat and tidy. I heard about RACE when I was in 4th year whilst doing a project which involved us researching a career that we wanted to pursue and I had always wanted to be a Jockey.

After learning a lot at RACE I got sent out (for work placement) to Sandra Hughes before Christmas. I’ve been there now the last three weeks and I am getting on great with all of the staff. The yard is ‘top notch’ and deserves all the credit it gets.

It’s great to be able to ride out with some of the best National Hunt Jockeys in the Country!

Scott returning from training on the Curragh

Scott on Joncol - Parents Day 2014

Meet the trainees - Emma Twomey

My name is Emma Twomey. I’m 18 years old and come from Co. Waterford. I didn’t come from a horsey background as such but my mother sent me to a few pony lessons when I was younger. It was only when we moved to a house with 2 fields and 2 stables that my parents decided to give me and my older sister a pony, and it was from there that we started hunting and developed an interest in horses. I love going hunting, its great craic! Although, it did give me a few bad habits. 

I only developed an interest in Horse Racing when I was brought to a point-to-point meeting that our hunt was organising and it grew from there. My parents were adamant that I did my leaving cert but during that time I got a job riding out weekends for a local point-to-point trainer, Diarmuid Ryan. I love it there (in Diarmuid’s yard) and learn a lot a lot from him because he takes the time to help me  and teaches me not just about racing but everything about horses in general.

I decided about 4 years ago that I wanted to go through RACE, but I was made stay in school until I had the leaving cert done and being honest I’m glad my parents did. So I started in RACE on the 1st of September 2014 after having done a week trial. I have learned so much in the space of 4 months on my seat, style and technique. The instructors in the yard, Barry, Niall, Paul K and Paul G are a huge help. They tell me what I need to improve on. My strength and fitness has improved so much as well but there’s still a long way to go. The daily routine here at RACE was tough to keep up with at the start but once my fitness and strength improved it go easier.

I start working for Conor O’ Dwyer this week and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great yard and I’ve been told by everyone I ask that Conor is a fair man that is great to work for. So hopefully I will get on well there and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can.

(Emma has been working at Conor’s yard since Monday 12/01/2014)

Emma training on RACE Gallops

Sadhbh Gannon - A typical afternoon

After we have ridden the horses and groomed them over we would go over to the canteen and have some tea. After tea we could have instruction on the simulators, a second lot, or have stable management depending on the day.

When we finish on the yard we head over for lunch at 1 o'clock. School starts at 2 o'clock and depending on what day of the week it is we would have Business, Communications, HRF (Health Related Fitness), IT or Stable and Yard Routine. We finish school at 5 o'clock and head back to our dorms and have tea.

We have PE with our teacher on Mondays and Wednesdays and are free to use the gym equipment, the hall and the simulators whenever we want.

After PE we have showers and supper at 9 o’clock. After supper we are usually fit for bed!

 

Sadhbh heading out to Maddenstown with her group