Kildare student receives coveted internship with Horse Racing Ireland

Sarah Dempsey, from Carbury, County Kildare, has been selected as the Tote Ireland Student Intern, through the Horse Racing Ireland Internship Programme, commencing a twelve-week work placement on Wednesday, June 8th.

This is third year of the HRI Student Internship Programme which was launched in November 2013. Over 150 applications were received from throughout the country with 50 students shortlisted and 25 selected for interview.

Horse Racing Ireland has appointed seven interns for the summer season of 2016. Four of the student interns will work in the HRI-owned racecourses: Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary and three will be based in the HRI head office at Ballymany, Kildare, with two in the Marketing Department and one in TOTE Ireland.

Sarah is currently studying Commerce in University College Dublin. She has gained previous work experience in Goffs Bloodstock Sales where she worked part-time for four years. She has also assisted her father Philip Dempsey who is a horse trainer for many years and worked full-time for him for a year in 2014. Sarah continues to ride out for her father and assist him at race meetings.

As part of her role with TOTE Ireland, Sarah will work primarily with the operations team and will also gain experience in marketing and social media.

Carol Nolan, Group HR Manager of Horse Racing Ireland said: “The Student Internship Programme continues to grow and develop each year and yet again we were delighted with the standard of applicants. We look forward to welcoming the students into our busy environment.  As well as gaining practical experience in the industry and making useful contacts, we will work with the students on areas such as CV preparation and interview techniques during their 12-week placement to help further prepare them for the transition from full-time education into full-time employment.”

Sarah Dempsey commented, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work in Tote Ireland and I am looking forward to the whole experience and to getting started with them. I hope to extend my knowledge of the racing industry, an industry I aspire to work in, and gain important practical experience, develop my reputation and make new contacts. Tote Ireland is an integral part of Irish racing and I’m sure I will be able to get involved in many different areas of it.”