2009 Trainee Views

June, Ireland 2011

Two years has now come down to just one day left of Darley Flying Start, and as the name suggests it really has flown. The last month in Ireland has seen the trainees hard at work on our final business plans which have ranged from training stables across the world; Asian and American syndications and stud farms; veterinary testing kits; a not for profit farming co-operative; stallion investment fund; and sustainable energy solutions for racecourses and sales complexes. We have been helped through our plans by the prestigious UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business, Sligo Institute of Technology and Innovation Centre, Irish entrepreneur Heinrich Anhold and a select group of industry experts who kindly volunteered their support as mentors and whose help was invaluable to the trainees throughout the process.

This week saw us all one by one present our final plans to a dragon’s den style panel of experts comprised of Alan Byrne, CEO of Racing Post, Noel Fitzgerald, PSC group, Joe Osborne and Clodagh Kavanagh, who took the time to give us each valuable feedback on the businesses that we have proposed to launch.

Despite our grueling work load, we did manage to sprinkle through some absolutely fantastic visits in our final month of the course. Appointments at Mick Halford’s stable, Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen yard and Bobby O’Ryan’s house have been real highlights of the course. Joe Foley, Jim Ryan, Richard Pugh and Dermot Farrington were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedules to sit down with us and share their experience, knowledge and insights into all facets of Irish racing and breeding. In addition, we were privileged enough to be invited to the beautiful Castlemartin, Ballylinch and Gilltown studs, three breeding jewels who are beacons of Irelands historic breeding legacy.

The last two years have been unforgettable to all eleven 2009 Darley Flying Start trainees, not only for the once in a life time opportunity that this course presented to each one of us, but for all the people who have helped us every step of the way, whether that be sharing their knowledge, taking us on in placements around the work, inviting us to their farm, yard or house or supporting us in a new country. Of course, the one person who has made this unforgettable experience a reality and whose generosity knows no bounds is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and to whom we cannot thank enough for these priceless two years.

Thank you so much to everybody, we go forward now in the hope that we will do ourselves, each other, this course and this industry proud, taking our experiences off around the world and achieving what we set out to do, pursue our passion in horseracing.

Chris Armstrong and Jenny Barnett

Click here for a list of all 2009 trainee views

Chris on placement at David Lanigan Racing, UK