Meet the trainees - Shannon Cussen

Shíona Ní Chuisín is ainm dom. Rugadh mé i mbaile Atha Cliath i 1993. Tá mé i mo chonaí i gCilldara anois le mo thealach beag. Is é damhsa, ealaín agus as marcaíocht capaill mó caitheamh aimsire.
Ní raibh aon taithí faoi capall rás agam sular thusigh mé ag oiliúnt is ag traenail í R.A.C.E. Ag an ám sin thaitheann sé go mór mór liom capall a chur ag leim agus capall a bheidh ag eachtraíochta.
Liomaíocht mé i 1.20 leim lé mo chapall Varthago Van't Kiezelhof agus ghlac mé pairt í comórtas eachtraíochta freisin. Bhí mé ag traenáil le Neal Fearon agus Sandra Blake-Farrell.
Ní raibh capall ar bith í mo chlann thus go cheannaigh mó seamhathair capallín dom nuair a bhí mé trí bliann deag daois. Ach bhí cupla capallíní ag mó aintin i gCiarraí agus fuair mé cupla "ceart" í rith mo laethanta saoire ar na capalliní ó mo col ceathrair Noelle.
Bhí mo chead ceart agam nuair a bhí mé dha bhliann déag daois. Nuair a thug mo seanmháthair Dancer dóm mar bronntanas thusaigh mé ag léim i gcomórtas.
Í 2009 cheannaigh mé Varthago agus bhímid ag leim i 1.20 comórtas mar bhí sé tharr barr. Buaigh mé comórtas agus fuair mé ait i R.D.S comórtas. Is capall den chead scoth i Varthago.
Tá an suim agam i gcapaill agus is maith liom bheith ag marcíocht le luas, ar nós na gaoithe. Tá súil agam go mbeadh mé i mo marcach, ag marcaíocht sna Breeders Cup lá amhain. 

Parents Day 2012



Lights, camera, action….!!The Craig Doyle Show

The Craig Doyle camera crew came to visit us in RACE on the 9^th of October 2012.  Their goal was to get a snapshot of ‘A Day in the Life of a Trainee Jockey in the Racing Academy’.  The camera crew got footage of us trainees mucking out, tacking up and riding out on the gallops (our usual routine during the day).

Shannon (a fellow trainee) and I were chosen to go up to RTE studios to be on the Live Craig Doyle Show.  We got our make up done as soon as we arrived at RTE.  We then got shown to the green room, where we had to wait to go into the studio.  We met a few familiar faces in the racing industry here, such as the one and only Ruby Walsh.  On the show we got some great advice off Ruby Walsh, on what it’s like to be a jockey and how the racing industry isn’t an easy goal.  We then got the chance to ask Ruby some questions of our own to Ruby.  I asked Ruby was Rince Ri a memorable horse for him in his racing career, as I care for that horse now in RACE. He told me that Rince Ri was a memorable horse for him as his father, Ted Walsh, trained the horse and his biggest win was the ‘Ericson’ in 2000.Overall it was a great experience I really

enjoyed going up to RTE and meeting up with Ruby Walsh.  I’m grateful to RACE for providing me with this opportunity. Written by Lauren Farrelly.

Meet the trainees - John Keating

My name is John Keating, I’m from Kildare town, Co. Kildare. I’ve always loved horse and used to come to RACE and go on the simulators, I always knew that I wanted to be a jockey and after finishing fifth year for the second time I realised that school wasn’t for me and it was time to follow my dreams and apply for RACE. I worked in a yard for the whole summer in Richard Brabazon’s pre training and breaking yard. It was a great experience and only for that I wouldn’t even be able to tack up a horse but I knew I had to go somewere to further my skills and show what is needed to be a top worker and jockey. Getting in wasn’t easy but when I got that letter in my door it was the best moment of my life. After being here for nearly three months I realise that this is a hard industry to make it in and even harder without coming to a place like RACE.

It’s been a very hard three months but I know I’m improving on every aspect of what I do— from mucking out to riding even my manners have improved! The staff here are great they push you to your limits but you have to know its all for your benefit and safety around the horses, they also have a laugh and make it a nice place to live and work.



Interview for Craig Doyle show