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All in a day’s work: Jockey Gary Noonan with schoolchildren in the weighroom at the HRI Racing Juniors education day.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan

A total of 150 schoolchildren from Killarney participated a special Horse Racing Ireland Racing Juniors education day at Killarney Racecourse on Thursday to launch the local racing season which gets underway on Sunday, May 12.

The fifth and sixth class primary school children from St Oliver’s Primary School and Presentation Monastery National School got to go behind the scenes at and meet Tralee-based trainer Tom Cooper who explained what his job entails as well as a typical day-to-day routine for his racehorses, their exercise schedule and diet and how he prepares them to run in a race.

Pupils from St Oliver’s National School and the Presentation Monastery at the HRI Racing Juniors education day

Jockey Gary Noonan brought the children into the weighroom to show them the jockeys’ changing room and the kit jockeys wear and use on race days, including boots, back-protector, helmet and saddle.

Killarney track supervisor Mike O’Connor took the children on a course walk to see first-hand how the team prepares the track for a race meeting with farrier Timmy McGillycuddy on hand to give children a demonstration.

Killarney Racecourse Chairman, Billy O’Sullivan, said: “We were delighted to host our HRI Juniors education day ahead of our 2024 season, which gets underway with our May Festival on Sunday, May 12 for three days”.

Third generation farrier, Timmy McGillycuddy, demonstrating the traditional art of shoeing a horse

He added: “The HRI Juniors education days are a great opportunity for the next generation to learn about the horse racing industry, see behind the scenes of a racecourse and understand the variety of jobs available which amount to over 30,000 nationally in the racing and breeding industry.

“We look forward to welcoming more schools to Killarney Racecourse in the future.”

The objective of the HRI Racing Juniors education days is to encourage an affinity with racehorses among the younger generation and demonstrate the variety of careers available in the racing and breeding industry in Ireland.

HRI Racing Juniors education days are free to attend. For schools to register to attend their local racecourse in 2024 they should email hriracingjuniors@hri.ie.
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