Course News - April 07

April in Kentucky means Keeneland for top class racing and the two year old in training sale, both of which were attended by the first-year trainees. They were involved in the race days on a professional basis as they each had the unique opportunity to shadow the racing secretary, starter, judges and stewards as the racing took place. This has provided them with valuable experience which will be vital when they complete their steward accreditation course in May. They have continued to attend their Equine Nutrition class at University of Kentucky with the final exam fast approaching. Visits to Pin Oak Stud where graduate Brent Wilson is assistant manager, and to Eoin Hartys training barn at Keeneland provided a welcome break to the many excellent lectures this month including Dr Rhonda Rathgeber, Dr Stuart Brown and Dr Dickson Varner.

Joe Osborne was in Kentucky to conduct the Flying Start interviews along with Jimmy Bell earlier this month, and he had individual meetings with each trainee to discuss their progress and any issues arising.

Meanwhile, back at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, the second-years took stock of the changes in their lives since they arrived here fresh faced and eager almost two years ago! The weather has been fantastic all month and having travelled the world, they all agree Kildangan is the most beautiful farm they have seen, and it is like a second home to them. They are now focussing on entrepreneurial skills, business planning and decision making. There have been lots of lively discussions and ideas both in and outside of lectures and meetings. The management and staff at Kildangan have been generous in their time to the trainees, each morning allowing them to dip in and out of meetings, visit farms, handle stock and generally catch up on all aspects of running a busy public stud farm. They have been racing at the Curragh and Leopardstown and even had a glorious day at the Punchestown National Hunt festival on April 27th. They head off for their last four week placement on May 4th, with bases in Ireland, UK and France. Some of them are negotiating job offers at the moment and a few already have agreed positions within the industry which they will take up on graduation.

Applicants for the 2007 course who completed interviews in March and April will be contacted in writing during the second week of May as regards their selection status which was discussed at a Flying Start board meeting in Dalham Hall on April 30th.

 

Clodagh Kavanagh