Meet the trainees - Michael McGrath

My Name is Mikey McGrath I am 18 years old and I am from Carrick –on- Suir Co. Tipperary. At a young age I was never into horse riding or ever thinking of becoming a jockey, but I have two cousins who were jockeys Mick Kinane and Lawrence McGrath and they were two very good jockeys! 

As I got older I always loved watching horse racing, but still never got up on a horse until I was 17 years old. I went to a few horse meetings like Tramore, Gowran Park, and Thurles and watching all this racing made me think of becoming a jockey.

I did my Leaving Certificate last year. My Mother and Father knew that I wanted to become a jockey and that I liked horses and one day I walked out of school and jumped into the car with my Mam and Dad and they started talking to me about the Curragh and the Racing Academy.They said that they had booked an open day in April.  I was so excited about it but also nervous,thinking that I wasn't going to get in because I had no riding experience,but in saying that,here I am now in RACE. I am learning every day and the people up here training us are very good.

I think it is so cool up here,like the people you see and the people you meet are very big in horse racing and it is an experience of a life time. My riding has gotten a lot better.
I fell off trotting on my first week, which was brutal and I thought I was never going to learn how to ride.Looking at all my other classmates up here riding all the strong horses which kind of made me feel bad enough, but I kept giving it everything and finally I was learning and getting better and I am actually picking it up quick enough.
 I also ride out on the weekends in P.J.Colvilles and I love it there.I am getting good experience out there.

Every Monday we do fitness training sessions with our coach Wayne Middleton.

It is very good and will stand to us keeping fit and the gym is also available on a Tuesday and Thursday because on a Wednesday we do Pilates with John, our Chef. This is really helpful and it allows us to relax our minds for an hour. 

I was sent out on work placement to  John Feane and I really like it there.We start at half 6 in the morning,  riding out at 8. I am also getting lots of experience there riding stronger horses which is standing to me everyday!

Michael was placed with John Feane on the 22nd of January 2018

Family Day November 2017