2009 Trainee Views
May, Kentucky 2010
At the beginning of April the coveralls went back into the closet, the January foals started spending nights outside, and the non-U.S. Flying Starters got to go to Keeneland for the very first time. Opening Day was on a Friday, and as it is every year and it was the most beautiful in anyone’s memory. The Flying Start accommodation is a convenient five minute drive away from Keeneland, an orientation that served us well during the month of April. Whether it was rushing over after a lecture to catch the feature or spending Saturdays trekking back and forth between the paddock and the rail, Keeneland was our home base during the meet. Keeneland allowed the trainees to spend an afternoon, in groups of two, with different racing officials, giving us inside access to a day at the races – and there is no better way to get to know people at the racetrack than to haunt the Secretary’s Office during the draw! It was also an essential prerequisite to our upcoming Racing Officials Accreditation Programme.
Then, on the heels of the Keeneland meet, the first Saturday in May finally arrived. We all had our picks, our meticulously studied and carefully guarded exactas, trifectas, and wheels. One of the trainees had never placed a formal bet before and for the first time put down her money at the window for the Derby itself. The Friday of the Kentucky Oaks was a beautiful sunny day, but it poured rain all day on the Saturday. We all went in ponchos and wellies and the horses had to swim past the quarter pole, but that didn’t stop us from making the most of the Derby experience. The non-Americans might have started out pronouncing it “Darby”, but after May 1, they were calling it “Derby” with the rest of us – because at the end of the day, there is only one Derby. With the exception of Derby day, the weather has been great for many our many farm visits. We spent an afternoon at Taylor Made with John Hall inspecting yearlings and talking about sales selection and preparation. Darley Flying Start graduate Brent Wilson led us on n interesting tour of the facilities at Pin Oak Stud. We also visited Headley Bell at Mill Ridge Farm, where he spoke to us about the many aspects that go into developing a quality broodmare band.
We wrapped up our legal module with a mock legislative hearing on VLTs and expanded gaming. Each member of the group took on a different role and presented testimony to a panel of legislators. The hearing was educational for us and hopefully entertaining for the audience which included Jimmy Bell, Olly Tait, Joe Osborne, Clodagh Kavanagh and Tammy Masterson. The weeks surrounding the Derby provided plenty of academic work. In the week leading up to the Derby, we spent time exercising our tour-giving skills by hosting the buses of racing fans that pulled up to Darley, Jonabell. After a great weekend at Churchill Downs we were brought back to reality with the final exam in our UK Equine Nutrition course.
The academic element of the U.S. leg of Flying Start is now winding down and we are all starting to look forward to our upcoming six week work placements. Some of us will be placed with trainers, some of us are going to bloodstock agents and some to sales companies. We are doing our Racing Officials Accreditation Programme this week, after which we will be scattering across the country – to New York, California, and Kentucky. Then, before we know it... it will be time to pack up our lives and get on a plane bound for the Hunter Valley down under!
Will Mayer and Katie Williams
Derby Day
Jenny, Ludovic and Chris at the Derby
Pasture walk
Vicky at the Horse Racing Museum