Course News May 11th - 15th

First Year Trainees

This week the First Year Trainees in the USA undertook their 5-day Steward Accreditation Course run by Wendy Davis from the University of Arizona. The aim of this course is to improve the trainees’ understanding of the administration and regulation of racing in the USA. The course gave the trainees an overview of the duties and responsibilities of all of the racing officials as well as an insight into the day to day operations that racing officials are accountable for, and also welfare, safety and legal issues. During the course the trainees had lectures and discussions with Race Track Industry Program supervisor Wendy Davis, Clinton Pitts, renowned former Jockey Club Steward, John Veitch, Head State Steward for the Kentucky Racing Commission, Scot Waterman, Executive Director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and Robert Butcher, Director of Mutuels for Keeneland.

Second Year Trainees

The Second Year Trainees completed week two of their four-week work placement. This is the final work placement of the 2007-2009 Darley Flying Start course, after which the trainees will return to Ireland for the final leg of the course before graduating in Newmarket in July. The trainees are gaining experience at the following locations:

An article on Andy Williams will feature in the June 2009 edition of New Zealand magazine, Horse Trader. Please click the link below to view the article.
http://www.darleyflyingstart.com/news/uploads/documents/12Sidelines.pdf

Graduate news

Craig Rounsfell, who graduated in 2007, celebrated a big win last Saturday. See press release below:

Boomer Bloodstock’s first purchase hits the board in North America debut in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap.

Sunday 17th May 2009 – Los Angeles, California.

Press Release

Craig Rounsefell’s fledgling bloodstock agency, Boomer Bloodstock, established in December 2008 had its first soldier on the ground yesterday at Hollywood Park. Dehere Again, purchased by Boomer Bloodstock in February this year after his 4th lifetime start in Australia, arrived in LA and acclimated perfectly for his new trainer Mike Mitchell, Rounsefell’s future father-in-law.

Dehere Again was the talk of the track ahead of his US debut in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap on the back of a solid workout tab over the past month across the Hollywood Park synthetic track. Starting equal second favourite, Dehere Again broke fast from post 6 and showed good early speed to sit in second position early before slotting back in behind the leader and eventual winner, mid race. Entering the straight Aaron Gryder pulled the gelding off the fence and asked him for his final effort. He responded well picking up the bit and fighting doggedly to hang on for 3rd, 1 ½ lengths from the winner to record his first Graded Stakes Placing from just his 5th lifetime start for his new owners Dr. Daniel Capen and Mr. Bob Tjosvold.

Aaron Gryder (this year’s Dubai World Cup winning jockey) was very impressed with Dehere Again’s performance. “He is a true professional, just does everything right”, reported Gryder, “he was getting tired and entitled to quit but he kept fighting all the way to the wire.”

Mike Mitchell was extremely pleased with the gelding in his American debut for his stable. “He acclimated better than I could ever have hoped for and has taken to the synthetic track particularly well”, commented Mitchell. “He had a good blow after the race today and will derive plenty of benefit from it”.

Mitchell said he will point Dehere Again towards an Allowance race for his next start in about a month’s time although he believes the Australian bred has more Stakes races within his sights in the future.

End press release

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