Over 500 local school pupils visit Curragh Racecourse for Education Day
Local trainer Dick Brabazon spoke to the children about his day-to-day routine and life in racing and introduced them to racehorse Korbous, whilst former Irish Grand National-winning jockey Paddy Flood gave the children an insight into his racing career, and his many successful wins in the saddle. Paddy also explained about the safety equipment jockeys must wear.
All the pupils received a ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ goodie bag at the end of the day which included complimentary tickets to go racing at The Curragh at the Junefest mid-summer race meeting on Saturday 10th June. Each pupil has been asked to write about their experience at The Curragh with the winner announced at the Junefest raceday
Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager at The Curragh Racecourse, commented: “We really enjoyed entertaining so many enthusiastic children from the locality this morning. It is important that we help develop a strong awareness amongst children who are living close to the racecourse so that they appreciate how much The Curragh racecourse and training grounds contribute to Ireland’s position as one of the world’s foremost horse racing nations. The Curragh has started an exciting journey as the development moves forward and it is hugely important that we work on a variety of initiatives aimed at the local community who we hope will play an important role in the changes that will take place over the next two years, in advance of the completion of the new complex in early 2019.”
Schools that took part:
Newbridge Educate Together, Green Road, The Curragh
Scoil Bhride Primary School, Athgarvan
St Patricks National School, Newbridge
Scoil Na Naomh Uilig, Newbridge
Scoil Mhuire, Newbridge
St Conleth & Mary's National School, Newbridge
Gael Scoil Chill Dara, Green Road, The Curragh
Scoil Bhride Primary School, Milltown
Outline of the ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ Education Days:
Station 1: Parade Ring – Meet a Trainer A trainer talks to the pupils about how their yard prepares for a race day, how to train a racehorse, what a horse eats and how much exercise it must get. The trainer will bring a horse with him/her and will go through the anatomy of a horse and show the students how to tack up for racing.
Station 2: The Weigh Room – Meet a Jockey The students are brought into the jockey’s weigh room where they meet and speak to a jockey. The jockey explains how he/she became a jockey, what it takes to be a jockey, how he/she prepares for races and answers any questions the students may have.
Station 3: R.A.C.E – Racing Simulator Representatives from R.A.C.E (Racing Academy & Centre of Education) are present with their racehorse simulator to talk to the students about their jockey trainee course. An instructor demonstrates, using the racehorse simulator, how to ride a racehorse. Some of the students from each group have a go on it too.
Station 4: Farrier Station A farrier speaks to the pupils about how he cares for horses’ hooves and shows them how horseshoes are made. He also shows the pupils various tools including rasps, pincers and different types of horseshoes.
Station 5: Racecourse Track Manager The students then meet the Racecourse Track Manager. They learn about how the Racecourse Track Manager and the team at the racecourse prepares the track/ground for a race day.