WE are now in the fourth month of the third phase of the Godolphin Flying Start programme, taking place in the United States at Lexington, Kentucky.

The winter has lasted in Kentucky, which did not stop the trainees accomplishing three months of morning practical rotations in the area to experience different aspects of the American thoroughbred industry.

In groups of two, the 12 trainees have been split between various prestigious establishments to enhance their horsemanship skills and their knowledge of the industry; we were lucky enough to work in the breeding shed with the Darley stallions at Jonabell Farm, shadow the Hagyard veterinary surgeons, work on stud farms such as Gainsborough, Denali and Brookdale and work at the Keeneland track with the Irish pre-trainer Johnny Burke.

We have been lucky to get several types of lectures given by the best specialists, as well as the amazing opportunity to meet the best stallions in the region, some already legends in the breeding world, such as Medaglia D’Oro, American Pharoah, Tapit and War Front.

DISCOVERY

For newcomers like I am, one of the best part of the American phase so far as been the discovery of American racing. The course had given us the opportunity to discover Irish, French and English racing so far, but I knew that American racing had an atmosphere of its own.

After a first shot shadowing the stewards and paddock judge at Turfway Park in January, I was impatiently looking forward to the Keeneland meeting, starting in April.

And I was not disappointed: the place, the attendance, the quality of racing, the workouts in the morning, everything there is made to make you experience a different dimension. I enjoyed my first tail gating party during the meeting, which consists of an open air party next to Keeneland during the racing days, where people can eat and have a drink from the boot of their car, or rent tents and organise small events.

FORM

The form of the horses running are studied a lot more thoroughly in American racing, with analysis such as the Bayer rating, and as an European racegoer it took me some time to learn how to read it.

The Keeneland meeting is also the occasion to meet American trainers that come here with their horses for the duration of the meeting: Wesley Ward, Graham Motion, Brad Cox, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, and the list goes on.

But as soon as the Keeneland meeting had ended, the trainees were already looking forward to a major racing event coming up - the Kentucky Derby, a Grade I race for three-year-old thoroughbreds at a distance of one and a quarter mile.

The week before the Derby, the 12 of us got the chance to admire on the track the 20 thoroughbreds entered in the 144rd Kentucky Derby, as well as the Kentucky Oaks contenders. We could closely admire some great horses such as the Irish-trained Mendelssohn and the Godolphin horse Enticed.

Even during the morning workouts, we could feel the energy in the air, and I realised that the upcoming racing weekend at Churchill Downs would probably be something I never experienced before.

And I was not disappointed. The Saturday for the Kentucky Oaks was the perfect introduction to what would follow, and it allowed the trainees to explore the racecourse and get familiar with the crowd. We watched from our seats at the finishing line as Monomoy Girl won the Kentucky Oaks under the ride of Florent Geroux during a wonderful sunny afternoon; that day was a delight for all the trainees.

blocked

Derby day was also an experience that I will never forget. All the roads were blocked around Churchill Downs and we had to walk for half an hour in a flow of racegoers to get to the gates. More than 157,000 people came to see the 2018 Kentucky Derby, which ranks it eighth for the highest attendance in the race’s history.

I had never seen anything like it; it was a great cultural mix, with magnificent outfits everywhere you could look. The infield was crowded, and everyone was having a great time.

soaked

It started to rain a lot after a few races and the dirt as well as the racegoers got soaked.

There was a growing impatience for the big race to come and then everyone watched with great enthusiasm and energy the Kentucky Derby field running “for the roses” and Justify winning outstandingly.

This was probably one of the best day’s racing of my life, and an incredible experience for our group. You need to live it to believe it.

Go to www.godolphinflyingstart.com for all the latest news of the trainees.