Darley Flying Start trainees arrive in Kentucky, 2010
The first year Darley Flying Start trainees arrived in Lexington, Kentucky on January 4th, having completed the UK phase of the course in Newmarket on December 17th. The USA phase of the course will culminate with attedning the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. The trainees will attend the January Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland and then commence their farriery course at the Kentucky Horse Shoeing School and their Equine Nutrition module at the University of Kentucky. In addition to visits and lectures in the afternoons the trainees will gain practical work experience each morning at Jonabell Farm, Keeneland training centre, Gainsborough Farm and the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. This will provide an opportunity for the trainees to work with yearlings, assist in the breeding shed, experience foaling and pre-training racehorses and learn about office administration. On completion of their practical training placements they will attend the Kentucky Oaks and Derby and undergo their Racing Official Accreditation Programme through the University of Arizona. They will then commence their full time work placements where they will gain experience with industry professionals for six weeks.
Two of the first year trainees are natives of Kentucky: John B. Jessie from Campbellsville and Will Mayer from Winchester. John has a solid practical background having worked for Overbrook Farm for three years. He also worked for Eaton Sales and for trainer Dallas Steward. John graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BSc in Agricultural Economics and was then selected for the Irish National Stud Breeding Course, which he completed successfully in 2009. Will Mayer graduated from Transylvania University in 2008 with a BA in Business Administration and French and was awarded the Transylvania University Outstanding Business Award. Will gained his practical experience in the industry through working for Fares Farm and Nursery Place in Kentucky and as a sales intern at Keeneland.
Also on the first year programme are Mike Wilson and Katherine Williams. Mike is from Davis, California and has worked for trainers Doug O’Neill, Richard Mandella and Bob Baffert. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2008 with a BSc in Equine Animal Science. Katherine comes from Virginia and has worked for Virginian trainers Ferris Allen and Hamilton Smith. She also worked as an exercise rider in Virginia and worked with yearlings at Gainesway Farm, Lexington.