Course News, February 2006

The second-years finished in Darley, Australia before Christmas with a Quiz and Debate night which was enjoyed by invited guests from the industry.

There was plenty of audience participation compliments of a “who’s who” quiz handed out at the interval, and Kiwa Fisher acted as quizmaster with Olly Tait as M.C. The two debate topics were “The legislation of Betfair in Tasmania will be of benefit to the rest of the Australian racing industry” and “Makybe Diva is the worlds greatest racehorse for 2005”. Both topics managed to incite plenty of healthy argument! For the first time since the programme began, we placed two trainees in New Zealand for two weeks in December 2005. Andrew Fuller went to Cambridge Stud and Kate McMahon to New Zealand Bloodstock Sales, both renowned for their success worldwide. Kate and Andy returned singing the praises of their experience in New Zealand, from an industry and cultural perspective. The immediate spin off was that a number of the trainees decided to go to New Zealand over Christmas to see for themselves, and we have received many more enquiries for the programme from “The Land of the Long White Cloud”. Thanks to Emma Ridley and the management at Darley Australia for making it all possible.

The UK based first-years made the most of their seven weeks in Newmarket thanks to the hard work of co-ordinator Trisha McMurray and the management at Dalham Hall. They attended Tattersalls sales with vets, consignors and bloodstock agents and gained practical experience of pre-training at the impressive Hamilton Hill facility under Steve Leaman and his excellent team. They each spent a morning in the racing, nomination, stud, accounts and marketing offices at Dalham Hall also. Importantly, they began some of their formal management training, with a three day Finance course and two days of Legal Studies. A December 9th deadline for assignments in Horse Health, Reproduction, and Anatomy and Physiology kept them focussed on the academic side of things! We enjoyed a lovely reception at Dalham Hall together with some of the lecturers and people the trainees had worked with before everyone headed their separate ways on December 16th.

January

A new year and new locations for the 24 trainees! I met with the second-years on their arrival in Dubai as they settled into the beautifully appointed Emirates Academy. Everyone was refreshed and relishing the prospect of getting involved in the busy Dubai racing scene. On meeting with the people with whom the trainees will be placed this year, I soon realised that they were equally looking forward to being involved with Darley Flying Start again. The placements include trainers Erwan Charpy, Doug Watson, Dhruba Selvaratnam, Satish Seemar, Godolphin and Mike de Kock, Dubai Stable pre training facility, International Stables, DRC and ERA. The trainees will also complete management modules each afternoon over the next three months at the Emirates Academy in the areas of Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management and Information Technology. They will be busy some evenings as well, assisting the ERA racing officials in their duties at Nad al Sheba race meetings from now up to and including World Cup night.

The first-years meanwhile landed to a crisp winter welcome in Kentucky, USA. They have visited such magnificent farms as Three Chimneys, Gainsborough, Ashford, Raceland and Jonabell in the last few weeks, as well as Churchill Downs, Keeneland and the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. They attended the January sale in Keeneland and have completed a workshop on Stallion psychology and fertility delivered by Sue McDonnell at Jonabell. Exams in Horse Health, Reproduction and Anatomy and Physiology were completed on January 14th and 21st. They are currently attending a two week course at Shelbyville Farriery School learning about all aspects of the development, care and management of the horses foot. The group have been made feel extremely welcome all over Kentucky and particularly by their co-ordinator Tammy Masterson and the management at Darley at Jonabell.

Application deadline approaches…

We are currently accepting applications to the programme and will do so until February 24th. Anyone interested in applying should mail their application at least one week in advance of the closing date. The interview dates and locations are posted on the “How to Apply” section of this website. Applicants should check their mail and emails regularly on and after the closing date.

Clodagh Kavanagh