OVER the past two years on the Godolphin Flying Start programme, I have been fortunate enough to attend a remarkable range of racedays across the globe. There has been a growing trend in the “festivalisation” of race meetings, and I believe that this move has been a beneficial one in attracting a new audience to the sport.

Irish Champions Weekend 2024 was the first major festival for my cohort of 12 Flying Start trainees. It was great to be back at Leopardstown, where I previously worked. They have continued to do a great job growing their racedays into large-scale events and enjoyable days out for racegoers.

Seeing Green Impact win the first Group 2 of the weekend, trained by Jessica Harrington, who I rode out for throughout university, was also very special.

Not long after Champions Weekend, we found ourselves in Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The beautiful gold stand of Longchamp racecourse and the stunning gallops of Chantilly were great introductions to racing in France. Seeing Bluestocking win the Arc was impressive and, interestingly, two horses in mid-division of that same race, Sir Delius and Al Riffa, reappeared on our racecards in Australia a year later.

American experience

In America we enjoyed more top quality racing. It was my first time in the US, and first time properly following American racing, which felt very different to the racing we had attended in Europe, at the likes of Huntingdon, Laytown and Longchamp.

After roughly three months of tracking horses and learning more about American racing, pedigrees, and McCarthy’s Bar in Lexington, the Road to the Kentucky Derby led us to Churchill Downs.

This track was on a whole new scale, and the experience of being associated with two live chances in the Derby with Godolphin homebreds East Avenue and Sovereignty added to the excitement and energy of the day.

A crowd of nearly 150,000, combined with the immense history and build-up to the Derby, created a vibrant and unique raceday atmosphere. The highlight came when Sovereignty rallied home strongly in the “slop”, followed by a surreal and truly unique experience as we were ushered across the track into the winner’s circle to join the Godolphin team in accepting the prize for the prestigious “Run for the Roses.”

Saratoga racetrack, which hosted the Belmont Stakes last year, also provided me with a memorable weekend of racing. I attended alongside the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) team, which oversees raceday operations, horse and jockey welfare, and anti-doping and veterinary procedures.

This was a great way for me to see the inner workings of running an elite raceday, and the measures that are put in place to ensure the track and its participants can operate efficiently and safely.

It was great to witness Sovereignty win the Belmont Stakes. Saratoga is a truly beautiful place, full of history and tradition, and the racing mirrored this, with a beautiful wooden stand, picnic tables under tall trees and a friendly and welcoming buzz about the place.

Summer vibe

In between the American and Australian phases of the programme, I travelled back to Newmarket to attend the July Cup. This was a race meeting with a festive summer vibe, great quality racing, and it was full of young racing enthusiasts, and seasoned professionals overflowing from the Tattersalls July Sale.

When we arrived in Australia in August, we had their flat season to look forward to. In Australia, the racing calendar is centered around their spring and autumn carnivals. This is another example of success associated with festivalisation and creating an event not to be missed.

The Everest, the richest race on turf, worth A$20 million, is just one of a number of new projects and ideas that Australian racing is reaping the benefits of. To attract a horse like Ka Ying Rising may have contributed to the massive crowd of over 50,000, 60% of which were under the age of 26.

Relevant and engaging

Ultimately, competitive racing with high quality horses, supported by strong prize money and complemented by fashion, food, drinks and a young, vibrant crowd, is exactly what the sport needs to remain relevant, engaging and sustainable.

The engagement and knowledge about racing among the average Australian was very surprising, and seeing the exposure and popularity of the sport was extremely refreshing. The industry is very visible and good at encouraging the next generation to come racing. This highlighted the importance of making the sport accessible as well as engaging.

In Victoria, the Melbourne Cup is a national holiday, further promoting the sport amongst the general public. Flemington Racecourse packs 18 stakes races into the week surrounding the Melbourne Cup. There was a huge buzz each day, massive crowds, great fashion, and even a rooftop bar on top of the stand with a D.J. playing into the evening! Live concerts from Craig David and Fisher at the final bend also drew in a young, energetic crowd.

During our study tour of Dubai in January we were fortunate to meet the main players in the industry and go racing in Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali and Meydan.

With no on-course betting, racing felt more social, with people attending to enjoy the environment, get out of the city, spend time with friends, and see the horses. Seeing the development and investment into racing in these regions was impressive. Hopefully racing, and all those involved can continue to work safely.

Now I am back to where I started this Flying Start journey, living at beautiful Kildangan Stud in Co. Kildare. I have returned with a wealth of experience and a far broader understanding of the global racing industry.

Over the past 18 months, I have been fortunate to attend some of the sport’s most prestigious racedays and work alongside exceptional teams, including Godolphin, HISA, Chris Waller and of course my team of Flying Start trainees.

These experiences have cemented my ambition to pursue a career in international racing, contributing to the industry’s growth, public engagement and long-term sustainability through ownership, racecourse attendance, and broader industry growth.

I am excited to take these experiences forward and continue learning about what truly goes into making a day at the races successful and memorable.Thank you to the team at Godolphin and Ireland coordinator Martina Dempsey for facilitating these spectacular experiences.

For more information on the programme see godolphinflyingstart.com