Meet The Trainees - Jack Ruddy

My name is Jack Ruddy; I am 17 years old since May. I have grown up in County Meath. I don’t come from a racing background but I got my interest in racing from my granddad. At the weekends, after finishing up the work on the farm, we would go in the house and watch channel 4 racing. When I was ten I got my first pony bobby. I learned how to ride him and did loads of pony lessons. Two years later I got another horse Harry and that’s when I started to compete at showjumping and hunter trials. Harry is a great horse and thankfully I won a few competitions on him. 

When I was younger I did a lot of GAA but at the age of fourteen I lost interest in it and that’s when I got the interest of wanting to become the next A.P. McCoy.

At the age of fifteen I started riding out in Tony Martin’s yard as it is only down the road from me. In Tony’s I learned a lot from the lads riding out such as Paddy McGuigan, Mikey O’ Connor, Alicia Kelly and the Jockeys Donagh Meyler and Shane Shorthall and the main man himself Tony. I learned things like my position and holding the horse on the gallops. 

 I am still working in Tony’s weekends and holidays. I am thankful to Tony for giving me chances from schooling and getting to ride work with the jockeys.

Ever since I started in RACE back in September there was still plenty of room for improvement and thankfully I learned a lot from all the instructors in RACE and a big thanks to Barry Walsh for the amount of stern words he gave me, it helped me in the end.

In November I was sent out to Sandra Hughes on work placement, where I have made really good friends like Nathan Masterson and Shauna Keatley. The early mornings were tough in the dead of winter but as the mornings get brighter and brighter I’m finding them a lot easier.

When I finish here in RACE  I hope to work in Tony’s before I go back to school in September and I hope to get my Amateur License in the future along with plenty of winners to go with it and hope to go professional in the end.

Jack after training on Maddenstown  Gallops

Meet The Trainees - Killian Gallagher

My name is Killian, I am 17 years old. I’m from Strabane in CoTyrone. Horses have always been part of my life and I’ve always wanted to be a Jockey, as I was hoping to follow in the footsteps of my uncle Pat Gallagher who had been a Jockey and has pursued a training career in America.

I finished school and one of my friends had been telling me that he was going to RACE so I started to research more about the course. When I left school I had the choice to go straight to a Trainer or go to RACE. So I decided to go to the trial and I got accepted.

I knew a lot about racehorses and race riding before I came here from pony racing but there was also a lot I didn’t know. Since I have came to RACE It has helped me improve my riding dramatically as I have a better position on a horse and I am a lot stronger now than I was before.

I am hoping to stay on as a senior in RACE as I am in a really good position in Tracey Collins yard and I am hoping to sign on as her Apprentice after the course.

Killian (far side) out on Maddenstown Gallops

Meet The Trainees - Jordan Cummins

My name is Jordan Cummins, I am 17 years old and I’m from Ballyfermot in Dublin. My family owned horses so I’ve always been around them and had an interest in them. I left school after my Junior Cert and I took a course in the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre and did some showjumping. I completed my leaving cert and a Level 4 in Stable Yard Routine. The Instructors Emma and Ciara recommended that I go to the Open Day in RACE. I decided to apply and was accepted for the week trial.

The trial was tough and I realised that it was important to be well mannered, hardworking and determined to be successful in the Racing Industry. I learned how to ride from showjumping to being a Trainee Jockey. I worked in the barn in RACE until January and then I was sent to Micheal Grassick (JR). While there I learned a lot including riding work and got the experience and the opportunity to learn and develop my riding skills and take care of horses, which I am very grateful for. I found being away from home and the early mornings difficult at times but it has to be done to become successful.

My plan is to get my Apprentice License and become a successful jockey.

I would definitely recommend the course to anyone that has an interest in horses. I have learnt a lot over the last 10 months and it’s a great experience especially at a young age. I’ve met some nice people and some great friends

Family day 2015