OUR Junior Academy programmes have proved very popular and successful in recent years and these CARE-funded training days aimed at 10-16 year-olds have traditionally filled up very quickly but this year the schedule was much reduced due to Covid restrictions.

We have been trying to salvage some activity by running a series of days in the lead up to Christmas as a way of maintaining the interest of this cohort in the many engaging elements of horse racing.

Aine O’Connor is coordinating these days and it is great to see young boys and girls eager to learn and enjoying the experience of sampling what it is like to get professional training in riding, horse care, fitness and conditioning and nutrition while gaining more insight to the racing industry.

Hopefully, as restrictions ease during the coming year we will be able to expand these activities and broaden our reach as we work to attract the next generation to racing. Anyone interested in participating should contact the RACE office and get their name in the hat for 2021.

SANDRA Hughes continues to work on our behalf to promote HRI-funded industry training programmes designed to support employers in their efforts to attract and retain suitably skilled stable staff.

These short practical courses are ideal for newer staff members requiring an induction to best practice or existing stable staff requiring a focus on riding skills improvement including schooling.

Over the past fortnight we have had conditional and amateur riders benefitting from excellent coaching opportunities under the guidance of Paddy Flood and Derek O’Connor along with nominated stable staff who have participated in schooling practice making best use of our indoor facilities and video technology. The programmes are designed to be short and user-friendly for maximum effectiveness and are sure to prove popular in the new year.

We have also broken new ground in recent months with the successful delivery of a fully online course for racing secretaries which has been oversubscribed and is likely to run again in the coming months.

The course is delivered in collaboration with HRI and offers a comprehensive introduction to the functions and skills required for stable staff aspiring to transition into this role with six half-day modules delivered in IT programmes, payroll, health & safety, racing administration and other office procedures.

It is likely we will be offering more online and blended options in the future as we attempt to reach a wider audience and offer flexible learning opportunities to people working in the broader industry.