Meet The Trainees - Marc Callear-Deveney

Hi, My name is Marc Deveney. I am 17 and from the one and only Dublin! I am currently attending the Racing Academy here in Kildare and I'm loving it. I first became interested in horses when I was only young and like most people, started in a riding school down the road from me. Of course, me being the curious fella that I am, I starting looking into showjumping. I took a go at that for a few years and quickly got nowhere, so I decided to go back to the drawing board!

I bought my unbroken Connemara Stallion not long after, trained him up and brought him to a few shows. My idea was to bring him to as many shows as possible to raise his value, so that I could eventually sell him. At this stage I had come to a block on what I actually wanted out of horse riding as a career. I felt like I was clutching at straws a bit. Thankfully, I became interested in horse racing and began to look at this as an alternative to mainstream school. So I stumbled upon RACE and low and behold....I'm here and delighted!

My first impressions of RACE was honestly a bit overwhelming. For a lad who didn't know much about horse racing and had come from a background of a small livery yard, that focused on showjumping, it's a big shock to the system. The trial alone tested me both physically and mentally, especially on the fitness front. We had PE every night and every time I found myself revisiting the reasons why I was here in my head, over and over again. I kept telling myself that this was a challenge and I wasn't going to let it break me. I gave it my all. That trial was never what anyone expected but everyone took something worthwhile out of it and that is why we are here today. Although, I wouldn't be a guy that would go for a job in a yard, I still wouldn't be seen standing around with my hands in my pockets and RACE has taught me the importance of hard work and dedication.

The History of RACE is nothing but excellent. Each jockey that has come from here has been nothing but impressive. Most of the jockeys that graduated under the guidance of instructor Barry Walsh have become trainers themselves and have taken on RACE trainee's. Johnny Murtagh and Conor O' Dwyer to name but a few.

Our timetable is pretty hectic. We have to be up and full of life at 6am to get a good breakfast. The biggest mistake you can make is to skip breakfast for those extra 15 minutes in bed. Your stomach does be falling out by noon if you do! If you're chosen for morning feed you're up at 5.30, ahead of everyone else. We are expected to be in the barn at 7am on the dot to muck out, tack up and ride out your first lot of the day. You have to be on the ball to make sure and not make any silly mistakes. Afterwards, we get a small break, where we receive a cup of tea before tacking up and riding out the second lot. Jobs are then allotted to different groups before finishing up. Down in the barn everyone has a responsibility. You must have the ability to work on your own initiative and as a team. You learn that as you go along as well. A well deserved lunch comes next. The afternoon comprises of classes in the education centre, where we put all the practical work into theory.

After RACE I am hoping that I will get to stay on in a yard in the Curragh and hopefully stay on campus. I do, however, have a life long plan to travel to Japan for a holiday or possibly some work as an exercise rider or an assistant trainer. Having experience from RACE is something great to have under your belt and I suspect that it will go down very well in Japan. I'm sure I will have plenty of support from Barry, Paul and Niall, seeing as they all worked in Japan at some stage in their career. Who knows what may happen in the future though!

So, I decided to lighten things up and share a little secret with you.... One day I was on the simulator watching Warren O' Connor give the lads some advice on effective use of the whip. He asked me to hop up on one of the simulators. That was grand, or so I thought. My legs turned to jelly out of nowhere, when I stood up they went straight from in under me. We all got a laugh out of it and I still haven't lived it down to this day!

The best advice I have received can't be summed up in just one quote. It's not just what the instructors have told me, it's what they have shown me that I will hold dearly forever. So, my advice to you - hard work, dedication and passion never hurt anyone at the end of the day!

Family Day 2015

Training on the Curragh December 2015

Meet The Trainees - Megan Hill

We are four months in to the 2015-2016 course. Trainees are getting on very well with some trainees already out in the mornings on work placement. As well as their typical day in RACE, they have had some time outside RACE visiting Kildangan Stud and the Irish National Stud and have had some well deserved R&R in Whitewater shopping centre in Newbridge. Certainly one of the many highlights for Trainees this year was a visit from Champion Jockey AP McCoy! They even got the chance to go to see 'Being AP' in the cinema which was nice after meeting the famous jockey in the flesh.

We hope that you enjoy meeting this years Trainees.

Hello, my name is Meg and I am 17 years old. It's a bit of a mystery as to where I got my interest in horses but I have loved them for as long as I can remember. When I was only 4 I recieved a rocking horse for Christmas and the rest is history! At 7 I got wind that there were horse riding lessons in my area and then the pestering began. I begged my parents to let me go and eventually Mum gave in. I rode there until I was 11 and then started working in the riding school, leading pony rides and mucking out stalls.

I started riding racehorses when I was 14 with Pat Martin's in Slane and this is where I recieved a mountain of knowledge. At the beginning I had to pay my dues. I spent most of my time mucking out and sweeping the yard. I'd also groom and look after the horses. I think once you can put up with that part, you know you really love it! Eventually Pat began to allow me to ride out, just warming up the horses first and then riding in the string on the gallop, but only on the very quiet horses. I knew there was so much for me to learn before I could progress on to the next level. I only ever rode two pieces of steady work in my time at Pat's, due to the fact that I was considered a weak rider at the time.

I applied for RACE when I was doing my Leaving Certificate. It had been in the pipeline for a long time. I had originally heard about RACE when I was 10 and it was a dream of mine to come here ever since. I remember the first time going to the races at the age of 7. It was arond Easter time. I get flashbacks of myself standing with Dad, like a sponge, taking it all in. I can remember Dad's very words "you know thats a Jockey" and my certain answer "Yes, that's what I'm gonna be".

While riding at Pats I met Emily Finnegan, a past graduate of RACE and she filled me in all about the trainee course here and urged me to attend the open day. So I did. I wont lie, there were numerous tantrums and arguments about the fact that I had to finish my Leaving Certificate before applying to RACE, but I am glad I made that decision now. While everybody was filling out college applications, I was busy, and quite happy, filling out my RACE application.

In June I recieved an acceptance letter for a trial week. Of course I was over the moon and not at all prepared for what I was yet to face. I went into that week thinking I was somewhat physically prepared for the road ahead. Oh how wrong was I?! That week was the most challegning week of my life. An emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I knew it was what I wanted to do, so everytime I was about to give up, I'd remember those words that were exchanged between Dad and I at the races and I kept going.

So enough about all the negatives. I think it is safe to say that, although it was extremely difficult, that week was one of the most epics weeks of my life also. I made so many great friends, friends that I now know are friends for life. I fell in love with the Curragh and didn't want to leave. That trial week inspired me to train twenty times harder and to become fitter and stronger. To take on the world. The wait for that letter was like being in purgatory. To make it better, when I did get my letter, I couldn't open it! I was so nervous. I eventually mustered up the strength to take a look and low and behold, I was accepted! I cried tears of joy for well over an hour. Everything that I had ever worked towards, all the negative opinions about what I would do for the rest of my life, all the arguments at home didnt matter anymore. I was in! I was going to get a shot at my dream.

This course is everything the trial week promised. It is so tough and will really push you to your limit. sometimes our days last up to 17 hours of non-stop activity but I think that this is the only way to get us prepared for being a jockey outside of the education centre. My dream is to become a National Hunt Jockey one day and thanks to RACE, I am one step closer to becoming that.

"Never let the thought of failure stop you from reaching your dreams"- Dr. Anthony Fernando

Riding demonstration for Family Day 2015

Megan (left) and Leona giving a Simulator demonstration and answering questions from the audience for the Sports & Business Network Tour 2015

Meet the trainees - James Farrelly

My name is James Farrelly and I am 16 years old. I never sat on a horse until 2012 where I did lessons in Maghra, Virginia. A man called Shane Costello wanted me to do showjumping but in my head I wanted to be a jockey, so he thought me the basics of riding like a jockey. My grandad is very into racing and I used to sit down with him and watch it so that inspired me. He got me a job in a local yard with Michael Mulvany where I spent my Saturday’s working and anytime I could. I really enjoy it out there and I still go out on the weekend.

I applied for RACE and I had lots of help behind me. I had a hard week trail, I worked so hard and it payed off, I got in!