Meet the Trainees - James Coffey

Hi, my name is James Coffey, I’m 16 years old and I’m from Midleton in Cork. I started riding ponies when I was about 2 or 3 years old, but I started taking it serious when I was about 10.  I have wanted to be a jockey all my life and coming from a racing background, racing is the only thing I have ever wanted to be involved in.  I started in United Pony Club when I was around 11 years old.  I did a bit of show jumping, hunter trials and hunting.  I like hunter trials because you can go fast and you’re jumping all kinds of jumps.

My grandad Donal trains pointers at home with help from my dad Seamus, my aunt Paula and cousin Sarah.  Over the summer I did a small bit in Terence O’Briens yard and I learned a good bit there. I also ride out for my uncle Noel O’Neill. I love it in RACE and my favourite time of the day is in the morning because you’re down in the barn with the horses. Barry, Niall, Paul, Paddy, Stephanie and Katie teach you loads.  I plan to go back to school for fifth and sixth year and I hope to do the best I can, so I can get enough points to study either business or equine science in college. 

I heard about RACE from a lot of people at the point-to-points and decided to have a crack at it myself.  I applied for the course and did a trial week in July.  That week was tough, the heat was well over 20 degrees.  I don’t know how we got through it, but we did.  When I got accepted onto the course I was straight onto my mam to tell the school that I was going to miss transition year. I have gained a good bit of experience while I have been in RACE and I hope that I am riding well.  My fitness levels have come up a lot. My beep test result was 7.7 in the first test but in the test before Christmas I got to level 10. 

I got sent out on placement to Michael Grassick’s yard. I think I have come on as a rider and Kevin Coleman in there has helped me a lot. A typical day would be waking up at 5:30 and going up to the canteen to make a sandwich for tea break, I get the 6:15 bus and I would be at the yard at around 6:30. I water the horses until everybody else is in. I usually ride about four lots a day on the gallop at the yard and sometimes on the Curragh.  Once I have ridden all my lots I help sweep, skip out and feed. I’d be back in RACE at about 1:00 and I would be in school at 2:15. We have gym classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and you would nearly be dead after it.  Wayne pushes us hard and hopefully it will all be worth it.  I feel that I have gotten a lot stronger and fitter because of it all. I hope to ride in point-to-points in a couple of years for my grandad.  And please god with a lot of luck I could ride a few winners.

James was placed with Michael Grassick on the 14^th of January 2019.

On cross country course

Meet the Trainees - Patricia Morrissey

Hello, my name is Patricia Morrissey, I am 16 years old and I am from Wexford.  I have always had horses at home and started horse riding at a young age.  I have been hunting with the West Wexford Harriers for the past 6 seasons. I have wanted to be a jockey since I was small and was delighted to go to the trial week and later get into the course. The summer before RACE I worked in Paul Nolan’s yard to get some experience and I really enjoyed it there.

I am in the yellow dorm living with Niamh, Sarah, Alicia, Roisin and Sophia. I love riding out here at RACE in the mornings, as you learn so much with the instructor’s feedback and you can improve every day.  All the instructors and teachers at RACE are very helpful. I enjoy fitness with Wayne as he pushes you in his classes and you then see improved results in your fitness tests.

I am really enjoying the course so far. A typical day at race would be riding out in the mornings until 1pm then we would get dinner and go to class for 2 pm. After school we get tea at 5 pm and then we go to the simulators in the evening and have fitness class with Wayne. 

We are all now currently out on work experience on the Curragh.  I am doing my work experience in Dermot Welds yard and I really enjoy it there. I usually have 5 lots a day. My favourite part of the day at RACE is riding out in the mornings. Everyone in Mr. Welds yard are very nice and helpful. They take the time to help you learn something new every day. After riding out in the mornings when we get back to RACE, we then go to school for 3 hours. We are also completing the Gaisce president’s award and fundraising for the Irish Injured Jockeys, Pieta house and My Lovely Horse. In May we will be going to Glendalough to do a 25-kilometer hike.  We go to the gym most evenings, we often have fitness tests with Wayne to see our progress in the gym. 

When I finish the course, I would love to keep riding out and eventually get my conditional license.

Patricia was placed with Dermot Weld on the 14th of January 2019.

Maddenstown Gallops

Meet the Trainees - Jamie Powell

Hi, my name is Jamie Powell. I am 16 years old and I live in Kildare Town. I have a big background in horse racing, I started to ride when I was 4 years old on a pony named Holly in my Grandmother’s yard. I have ridden race horses for 2 years now and have always wanted to be a jockey and follow in my Father’s footsteps and my Granddad, riding the winners of the Irish St. Ledger and the 2002 Guineas. There hasn’t been any pressure put on me to get involved in horses but there is nothing else I would love to do despite the hard work.

It all started when I applied for RACE as I wanted to further my progress as a rider and hoped to become a jockey when I left. I didn’t have much experience going into RACE and had very little confidence.  At the start I struggled with the step up from ponies to retired racehorses. The instructors in race helped me along the way and I can’t thank them enough.  It was a lot of hard work, but I got there in the end and after nearly 5 months of being in RACE I got sent out to Mr. Patrick Prendergast. I learnt loads there and most importantly my confidence grew. At the start of 2019 Mr. Prendergast and Mr. Oxx joined forces and that’s when I fully got going with my riding and my communication skills with trainers and other staff. I began to improve every day and I was in a very happy place. Both trainers have been very good to me and have helped me improve as a rider and as a person, I can’t thank them enough.

Growing up I idolised Chris Hayes, Johnny Murtagh and Michael Kinane. I try to take little traits from each of them over the years, but I was told never to copy someone else’s style, just be myself.  I feel I’m learning every day and my confidence is growing. I’m hoping that I will be signed on as an apprentice at the end of the year and kick-start my career in the racing industry.

RACE has been a massive help to me on more levels than just riding. We learn how to communicate properly with owners, trainers and other people like stewards etc. We get talks from jockeys some that came through RACE, others that have interesting stories, but I always try to take one thing from each interaction with them and I’m very grateful for all the support and advice I have been given here in RACE.

One day I hope to be a jockey, but I know it won’t just come to me over night, I have many years of early mornings and hard work ahead but I’m looking forward to it all.

Jamie was placed with Patrick Prendergast on the 14^th of January 2019.

Training on the Curragh

Meet the Trainees - Sarah Verling

Hi, my name is Sarah Verling, I’m from Fermoy, Co. Cork and I am sixteen years old. I am lucky that I have always been around horses at home as my dad became a trainer after a career as a jockey.

I have ridden ponies since I was young. I have competed in show jumping competitions and I’ve been out hunting for a couple of seasons as well, with my local hunt. I completed one of the Junior Academy days here at RACE and decided to apply for the trainee jockey course. I was delighted to have a place on the trial during the summer and enjoyed the whole experience.

I found riding down in the barn at RACE very helpful, as you learn and gain confidence throughout the time there, you also get great feedback on your riding daily.

 I’m currently out in placement with Johnny Murtagh and I’m loving it so far. I feel a lot more confident since I started and that helps with everything.

I have really enjoyed all the different elements in the course that we do like the fitness classes, simulator lessons, stalls training, schooling and all the different classes at school. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to do the course as it has been a great experience.

I’m not sure what the future holds for me within the racing industry but I’m sure my time spent in RACE will stand to me and help me along the way.

Sarah was placed with Johnny Murtagh on the 14^th of January 2019

On RACE Gallops