OUR current group of trainees are making steady progress as they complete week six of their programme and continue their preparations for work placement.

They are now a regular feature on the Curragh gallops and have busy schedules with yard work, schooling sessions, simulator coaching, industry induction, classroom modules and fitness and conditioning.

Thirty trainees commenced the programme this year with 14 boys and 16 girls drawn from 16 different counties plus one from the Czech Republic and one from Norway.

On completion of the initial term of foundation training, we will be aiming to support a twin-track approach where trainees are able to progress at a pace suitable to their levels of competence and experience while ensuring everyone is supported along a progression pathway to reach their potential.

Insights

One of the benefits of being on campus is the regular visits of industry professionals and training activities and the insights gained about the workings of the industry and the professional standards to aspire to.

Our schooling progression courses have long been a popular draw and Derek O’Connor was leading more of these training days in recent weeks which include valuable schooling practice on the Curragh training grounds, video coaching, feedback sessions and simulator training.

These training days, along with similar preparation days for amateur riders, conditional licence holders and industry stable staff are regularly scheduled and applications can be made through the RACE office to benefit from this valuable coaching opportunity.

Curragh prizes for Pony Clubbers

EARLY engagement with young horse lovers is a principal plank of our promotion and recruitment work and this year marked the 11th instalment of a Jockey Skills course for Pony Club members which returned to RACE last month after a two-year absence due to Covid restrictions.

Ten young riders selected from around the country were required to be at least 14 years of age and have completed a C Test and they participated in a two-day programme which involved riding racehorses on the gallops, video coaching, simulator training, fitness instruction and nutritional advice as they got to sample a slice of Academy life and consider the attractions of a career as a jockey.

They were also competing for a valuable prize in the form of a handsome perpetual trophy to be awarded to the participant who performed best in riding, fitness, effort, manner and attitude over the course of the two days on campus.

The group included Lilian & Katelyn Walsh from Galway, Brian Medlycott (Wicklow), James Dempsey (Newcastle Lyons), Conor Cusack (Waterford), Emily Conlon (Offaly), Isabel Fitzgerald (Cork), Martin Cleere (Golden Vale), Nancy Fleming (Kildare) and Isabel O’Callaghan from the Kingdom branch in Kerry.

They thoroughly enjoyed their two days at RACE and represented their branches very well in their manner and application while the excitement built in preparation for the race day at the Curragh last Sunday where they had the opportunity to ride their ponies in an exhibition race in front of their families and friends.

Certificates

The overall winner was Martin Cleere from Tipperary who was presented with his trophy on the day and all participants received certificates and prizes for their efforts.

A jockey skills exhibition by the young riders then took place over four furlongs on the track where James Dempsey was first past the post.

Top jockey Billy Lee picked out Isabel Fitzgerald as the most stylish rider and then provided a debrief to all riders in the weighing room afterwards where they all received copies of the ‘race’ to keep as a treasured memory of an exciting day.

We look forward to hopefully seeing more of these young riders and their families in the future as their ambitions develop.

Graduates from first stable staff training programme

IN other industry training activities, we recently completed a six-week pilot programme in association with EQUUIP aimed at assisting stable staff recruitment.

The Introduction to Thoroughbred Care & Exercise course offered intensive training to candidates with some non-thoroughbred horse experience to prepare them for productive employment as exercise riders and allow them progress to stable staff roles in racing yards.

Five graduates from this course have proceeded to work in yards and contribute to the labour force needs and we hope to roll out this type of programme for suitable candidates over several entry cycles in the new year.

New course

A new Thoroughbred Industry Administration course, funded by EQUUIP, also commenced on October 11th with the first group of 15 participants engaged in a hybrid programme over six weeks (one evening per week) with a combination of in-person and online learning covering IT, payroll systems, health & Safety, HR, marketing, racing & stud administration plus the sales process.

The programme was heavily over-subscribed and will hopefully lead to further deliveries along with webinars for a broader audience on the workings of the HRI / RAS system.