The Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) is a training academy and registered charity in Kildare, Ireland, which offers courses for jockeys and others involved in horseracing. Until 2023, RACE ran a 42-week residential course for aspiring jockeys and stable staff. Graduates of the course include Johnny Murtagh, Seamie Heffernan, Chris Hayes, Cathy Gannon, Daryl Jacob and Brian Hughes.[1][2][3] In 2023 the academy was forced to close its residential blocks for safety reasons.[3] As of 2025, RACE offers a six-week jockey preparation course (followed by a six-week placement with a trainer), as well as courses in equine nutrition, transport, schooling and administration. All courses are non-residential. There are also junior academy days.[4]
The Irish School of Farriery run by the Irish Farriery Authority is located in a purpose-built building on the RACE campus, and several other organisations involved in the equine sector are also based there.[5]
RACE is funded (as of 2023) by the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Kildare-Wicklow Education Training Board, and a percentage of racing prize money.[6]
History
[edit]RACE is situated on what was once the Tully estate of thoroughbred-breeder and politician William Hall-Walker. Curragh House, the administrative centre of the academy, was the home to the family of Japanese landscape gardener Tassa Eida, while he was creating a Japanese garden for Hall-Walker.[7] In 1916, Hall-Walker presented the estate to the British Government; it was acquired by the Irish Government in 1943 and became the Irish National Stud.[8]
The academy was founded in 1973 by veterinarian Stanley Cosgrove and others, including Derek O'Sullivan, who became its first director, in response to concern about the working conditions of apprentice jockeys and stable staff. Classrooms, gyms, lecture halls, an indoor riding school and facilities for a string of retired racehorses were added to the buildings.[9]
In 2023, as RACE marked its fiftieth anniversary, financial problems emerged and its residential buildings were closed over safety issues. HRI put an interim chief executive, Darren Lawlor, in place. Twenty-one of the thirty-one staff at the academy lost their jobs.[6][10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Getting the students on the right track". The Irish Times. 4 March 2009.
- ^ "Under starter's orders at horse-racing boot camp". The Irish Times. 7 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Training academy forced to close residential areas due to concerns about safety". Racing Post. 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Courses and training". RACE. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "RACE: History". RACE. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Future of horse racing apprentice school hangs in the balance". The Irish Times. 2 September 2023.
- ^ "National Stud & Japanese Gardens". Irish Tourism. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "About us". Irish National Stud. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Willoughby, James. "Ireland's own fame academy driven by passion and pride" (PDF). RACE. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "'It was handled so poorly' - massive job losses at Irish racing academy as 21 out of 31 staff are made redundant". Racing Post. 30 August 2023.