Meet the trainees - Darragh Keogh

Hi! My name is Darragh Keogh but everyone calls me ‘Fish’. I am 16 years old. I am from a small place that not many people have heard of called Kilberry in County Kildare, it is only a 20 minutes’ drive from RACE. I have a great interest in horses and the Racing Industry. I have worked with horses since I was about 12 years old and I am from a hunting background. I have worked with trainer Maurice Phelan since 2016 and I have learned a lot there before coming to RACE in August 2017.

For work placement, I was sent out to Dermot Welds top yard by. I was in Rosewell for a few days before I was sent to the bottom yard and loved it there. I am now in the bottom yard in Rathbride, riding yearlings, two-year olds and older horses. I love it there and I have gained plenty of experience and plenty of advice from Amateur, Flat, National Hunt Jockeys both retired and currently licensed, such as Derek McCormack and Tommy Tracey.

When I finish the course at RACE, I hope to move on to a National Hunt yard and take out a Conditional Licence.

Darragh was placed with Dermot Weld on the 20^th of November 2017

First week of course

Meet the trainees - Orla McKenna

My name is Orla McKenna I am 19 years old and I am from Monaghan. I have been interested in horses since a young age. I started horse riding lessons when I was six years old and it wasn’t long before I had horses of my own.  I have always been interested in horses and Horse Racing and although I had no racing experience, I decided to apply for this course to open up my options.

I was delighted when I found out I had been accepted onto the course. So far, I am loving it here! Each morning we get up and head down to the barn, we muck out a few stables each and then we tack up and ride out three lots.

At the beginning of February, I was sent out on placement to Michael Halford's yard. Most days I ride out five lots including the two-year-old filly’s and colts. I start work at 7 am every morning so I wake up at 6am every day to get my bus at 6.25 am.

Orla was placed with Michael Halford on the 14^th of February 2018

Riding on RACE Gallops for Family Day