Meet The Trainees - Ben Love

My name is Ben and I am 16 years old and from Meath.  I want to be Jockey, is basically what this is going to be about.

I started riding back when I was small in a riding school and I bought my first pony, Misty, a few years ago. I just couldn’t get enough of it from there and didn’t get a taste for the racehorses until a couple of years ago. When I first sat on a racehorse I was hooked from there.  It’s my passion and really all that I can do.  The skill and the speed in horses is like a drug, I can’t get enough of it.  

When I heard about RACE I immediately, before even telling my parents about it, started preparing my application for it.  When we arrived on the Open Day I remember my Mum telling me that somebody must have heard about me and built an academy to suit what I need.  

When I arrived on the first day the first thing that struck me was that this was the first step that I needed to take to become a Jockey.  Most of what I’ve learnt is what it really takes to become a Jockey. People just don’t realise what kind of mental and physical strength goes into the sport.  I’ve also made a lot of valuable connections in the racing world, and met a lot of great people that have helped me along the way.  

I’m really looking forward to graduating and getting out there to try and make it by myself and hopefully becoming a top class Jockey.

Ben was placed with Conor O’Dwyer in November 2015

Ben schooling on the Curragh Training Grounds

Meet The Trainees - Tommy Mahon

Hello my name is Tommy Mahon I am 17 years old and I am from Co. Carlow. I always loved animals from a very young age. My father is a farmer and all my uncles have a farming background, Cattle, sheep, dogs and cats where all in the family but then came along a horse. I got into horses from that day. I decided to go to a riding school 15 minutes away from me where I used to fall off more times than stay on. In 5th and 6th class in school, I used to tell my friends how I was going to be the next Ruby Walsh. A few years on I got more into horse RACING! as dad worked in Jessica Harrington’s. I asked him could I go there, he said I don’t want you to be in St. Lukes hospital in Kilkenny with 2 broken legs, ah sure I had to laugh!

When I turned 14 I went down to Jim Bolger’s for a summer, it was the best decision of my life. I was put up on the lead horse a few times but other than that I was riding nothing. I was painting railings and picking weeds from 6am until 12am, what a day that would be. My experience grew and grew over that summer and I will never forget it. I then told my parents I wanted to leave school after junior cert and wanted to go to RACE. I used to run every night to keep my weight down as I am just about 6ft it was always going to be hardship to get to 9st I could lose 1lb after a 10km run and that’s not just with 1 layer on me! I got notice of the week trial and I couldn’t believe it, I was the fittest on the bleep test out of the whole trial. When a letter came into my house about being accepted for the course I couldn’t believe it.

 I am now fitter and stronger than ever before. Going from not being able to ride a racehorse 2/3 years ago to riding work and schooling over fences each morning is a massive achievement. I enjoy working in Christy Roche’s as my work placement. At the weekends, since the course started, I began riding out in Pat Fahy’s back home to keep myself occupied. Getting up at 6 each morning is getting easier as I know I am getting up to do something I love.

It’s been an experience of a lifetime and my future career in the industry should be helped with the likes of Niall Byrne and Barry Walsh and everyone else who helped me along the way. I hope to become Champion Amateur in the near future and ride as many winners as I can.

Good luck, safe home and I’ll talk to you guys later!!!

Tommy schooling on RACE Gallops

Meet The Trainees - Mikey Melia

I am 16 years of age and I am from Monasterevin County Kildare. My family were always into horses so I took an interest and when I was about 8 or 9 I started getting lessons in a place called Dunbyrne Stud. I was riding there for a year or two when I got a big fright and wanted to give up horse riding all together.

My Ma brought me to another place where my cousins were riding and I started there. From there I got all my confidence back and then I started hunting. I hunted a small pony for my first hunt and I loved it.

I always wanted my own pony so I got one after a long time of persuading. I had him and did a couple of hunts on him and then I started to outgrow him so I sold him on and got a new pony. She brought my confidence on so much and then I started hunting every Sunday. After a year I sold her and got a bigger horse. One year for Christmas I got my own exercise saddle because I thought it would be cool and I’d look like a jockey. I started riding in this and hunting in it and ever since I started riding in it I can’t ride in a hunting saddle because it feels weird.

I always wanted to be a jockey since I was young so I wanted to come to RACE the same as my brother. I came for the trial week. This was tough but was worth it because I was doing what I wanted to do, plus I was getting out of school which was a bonus.

We started the course in September and by November the first group were sent out. I was sent to Kevin Prendergast and I have learned so much by riding yearlings and riding lots of work which is great experience. The yard is great because everyone is a good laugh and you can have a bit of ‘craic’ and there are also some very nice horses stabled there.

I will be happy to graduate from RACE and have this behind me for my future for when I hope to take a licence out and ride on the track. It’s been a great experience. I’ve made some great friends and learnt a lot.

Mikey leads the string on Maddenstown  Gallops