Course News November 15th – 21st 2009
First Year Trainees
This week commenced with a full day module on An Introduction to Business Law with Clare Richards of Barker Gotelee. Clare and her colleagues gave the trainees an opportunity to work through some industry case studies to help the training process. On Thursday the trainees spent a day with broadcaster Rishi Persad developing their interview, public speaking and media skills. Much of the day was spent on the practical tasks of being interviewed and interviewing each other. Jonny McIrvine spoke to the group about Bloodstock Insurance and Adrian Beaumont explained his role with the International Racing Bureau. Geoff Lane MRCVS and Tom Morton MRCVS lectured about Wind Soundness and International Quarantine Procedures respectively. Darley’s Sam Bullard and Ray Eyre spoke to the group about Stallion Management and Evaluation of Mares for Sales.
The trainees visited David Lanigan’s Revida Place Stables where David talked them through the challenges and successes of his first two years training. They also went to the historic Cheveley Park Stud where they saw Pivotal and some other stallions. Some of the trainees organised a visit to Henry Cecil’s Warren Place training stable. For those who went it was a great opportunity to meet their idol and discuss his ideas and views.
Second Year Trainees
This was the second week of the second year’s placements in Australia and New Zealand. They continue to apply their skills and develop their practical and business knowledge while familiarising themselves the culture, staff and management of their placement locations.
Focus on placements: Meagan Jamieson, Jimmy Unwala & Sorrel Schoenberger
At the Victoria Racing Club in Melbourne, Meagan Jamieson is learning about the management of the hugely successful Flemington racetrack. She is currently compiling a report on how the VRC can continue to sustain growth and is learning about business development, sponsorship and corporate hospitality, event operations and marketing.
Jimmy Unwala’s placement is with Inglis Bloodstock Sales in Sydney. Jimmy has been learning about the structure of the company and the auction process. As well as this he is developing his knowledge on the selection criteria of horses for cataloguing, pedigree research, valuation of bloodstock, bid spotting and yearling inspection. One of his projects was the creation a first season’s sire tab for the Select Sale catalogue.
In New Zealand, Sorrel Schoenberger is settling into the yard routine at Roger James’ training stable. Her responsibilies include caring for racehorses, monitoring soundness and health, feeding and going racing. She is learning about the training methods, race planning and day to day stable activites in New Zealand and has attended race trials at Cambridge.