Meet the trainees - Peter Kavanagh

Peter schooling on the Curragh Schooling Grounds

My name is Peter Kavanagh.  I am 16 years old.  I am from Ballindaggin in Wexford.  I rode lots of horses and ponies before I came to RACE.  I did lots of show jumping, hunting and a small bit of pony racing.  

I have been riding out for Colin Bowe on the weekends for the last three years.  I have learned lots since I started there and it’s been a great experience.  Colin is very good to work for.  I then started riding out for Sean Doyle on a Sunday during the winter which was also a great experience.

I had heard about RACE before I came here from talking to friends who came here.  I heard all about RACE and what was expected. The trial was as tough, as it was made out to be. After the trial I got the letter of acceptance. I was delighted when I got the letter and when I found out that all my friends had gotten in too.

 I am enjoying my time in RACE and I have made lots of friends.  I hope to get sent out to a good yard on work placement. I hope to finish the course and to hopefully take out my licence next year and get a few rides while I go back and do my Leaving Cert. 

Peter was placed with Kevin Prendergast on the 21st of November 2016

Meet the trainees - Adam Tracey

Adam Training on RACE Gallops

Hi!  I’m Adam Tracey and I am currently at RACE. I have been here nearly 41 weeks and only have 1 week left. It has been a really good experience and I have learned a lot.

I first got into horses when I was young.  I went to a riding school when I was about 6 when I went to Donadea Stables. I stayed there for about 5 years and learned a lot. I went up every Tuesday and Saturday. While I was there I did a lot, from hunting to showjumping.

When I was about 8 years old, I decided that I wanted to be a jockey. I used to go racing with my brother and my father. When I wasn’t at a meeting, I always watched it on the telly. I was really interested in the sport and just knew I wanted to be a jockey.

When I was a young lad I knew I wanted to be a jockey but I didn’t know how to become one as no one in my family worked in the Industry. So I started to look up what I had to do and found out about RACE. From then on, I counted down the days until I could come here.

Last year I came on an open day and had a look at RACE to see if it was what I wanted. I got all the forms and filled them out right away. A few months later I came on a trial week to see if I was a suitable candidate. I got on really well and worked the hardest I ever did. I really wasn’t expecting to get accepted but I did. I got a phone call in August and I was over the moon and delighted to get started.

While in RACE, I have had a tough year between falls and time out and some confidence problems. But at the end of the day I am happy I came here. It’s been a really great year and I have made a lot of new friends and have learned a lot about the industry and just life in general.