KEITH Rowe is stepping down as Director of the Racing Academy and Centre of Education [RACE] after 18 years in the post.

Best known for its production line of trainee/apprentice jockeys, RACE also offers training and education to many other parts of the industry.

Rowe is leaving racing to take up a role with the Timoney Leadership Institute in Dublin, which trains business leaders.

“It has been a real privilege to lead the team at RACE and I am very grateful to all the people who have supported me in the role over the past 18 years,” he said. “It has been an eventful and rewarding experience and I will take many happy memories from my time here and the many great people I have encountered along the way.

“We are lucky to have an excellent team at RACE with a strong collective spirit and outstanding people in key positions across the campus who are passionate about our work and our purpose. With sustained industry support, I am confident that RACE can play a major role in addressing many of the people and labour force challenges we face in Irish racing today.”

The process of recruiting Rowe’s replacement has started and applications are still being accepted. Rowe added: “We have a very good and stable team here, so I am sure it will be business as usual until the new appointment is made.”