Meet the trainees - David Hudson

David training on RACE Gallops in September 2016

My name is David Henry Hudson. I am 17 years old and I’m from Wicklow. I live on dairy farm, we have over 120 cows and I have my tractor license. My Mum and Dad used to ride. I started riding when I was 4 or 5 year old. When I was 13 years old I started hunting and I loved it!

I came up on an open day in RACE and I liked it.  I applied for the week trial and I got a place on the trial. I enjoyed the week. I got a letter in the post that said that I got a place on the course.  I was so happy!

I am still down in the RACE barn. I ride out 3 or 4 horses and we go to the Curragh and Maddenstown Gallops most days and I ride the majority of horse types down the barn, varying from the easy to difficult horses.  I really enjoy working with Racehorses and always wanted to become a Jockey ever since I was little and now I am half way there to making my dream career come true.  

At the time of writing this, I am still waiting on my work placement and excited to see where I will be placed and get to experience at first-hand what it’s like to ride in a proper racing yard with a good trainer and learn new skills and techniques to improve myself to the best that I can and make a national hunt jockey in the future. I would like to follow my idol, Ruby Walsh and start on the path of my career. From the help here at RACE I think I have the ability and with encouragement I will get to where I want to be in the near future.

Meet the trainees - Niall Moore

Niall in demonstration on RACE Gallops for Family Day

My name is Niall Moore I am 16 years old and I am from Gortnahoe in Tipperary. I was always interested in horses ever since I first sat up on one at a young age. Before I came to RACE, I hunted a bit and would ride out my horses every Saturday. I also loved watching racing from a young age and I would attend the Punchestown festival and the Thurles race meetings often and watching all this racing made me want to be a Jockey.

Last Spring I decided that I would apply for the Trainee Jockey Course in RACE.  A few weeks later I went to an open day and admired the place. Next I got a letter telling me I would have to take part in a trial week which was tough, but I kept my head down and worked hard. In August I got accepted to the course and was over the moon!

The course started in September and it was a big change living away from home but with company and craic in the dorms we survived. I loved riding out down the barn and gained lots of experience and tips from the Instructors. In February, I was sent out to local trainer Johnny Murtagh I am learning so much here off both Johnny and the lads in the yard and my riding has come on a lot since I have started there. I also ride out at the weekends for John Nicholson, who has helped me improve my riding a lot.

I hope to take out an Amateur License at the end of the summer and work full time at John Nicholsons yard.

Niall was placed with Johnny Murtagh on the 6th of February 2017