News
HRI Go Racing Kids Club at Fairyhouse Racecourse
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) held a ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ Day at Fairyhouse Racecourse on Tuesday 29th November. There were 143 pupils (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class) from local schools in attendance who took part in demonstrations from RACE (Racing Academy & Centre of Education) and heard talks from Jockey Nina Carberry and local Trainer Robbie Hennessy. Robbie was kind enough to bring along one of his horses called Donegal for the benefit of the children.
The objective of the ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ initiative is to build ties between the racecourses and their local community, encouraging an affinity with racing which will hopefully produce future racegoers. The activities educate school children about racing and show them what happens behind the scenes on the racecourse.
All the children received a ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ goodie bag at the end of the day which included complimentary tickets for racing at Fairyhouse this Sunday for their parents (as children go free). There was also a competition element built into the day, as the children were invited to draw a picture of ‘Horse racing – what it means me’. Following their day at the track, as homework the children were asked to write an essay about their morning at Fairyhouse Racecourse.
Peter Roe, Manager, Fairyhouse Racecourse, commented: “We were delighted to have over 140 children at Fairyhouse today who got firsthand experience of what happens on a raceday and the role of Fairyhouse in the community at large. The children and their teachers were all enlightened by the talks from Nina Carberry, Robbie Hennessy and Annmarie Cullen and loved trying out the RACE simulator. It was a very successful morning and we look forward to seeing most of them and their parents back here on Sunday for the Premier Jump Racing Weekend”.
The schools that attended were: St. Andrew’s National School and Rathbeggan National School.
Outline of the ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ day at Fairyhouse Racecourse:
Station 1: Meet a Trainer – Robbie Hennessy
A trainer talks to the pupils about how their yard prepares for a race day, how to train a racehorse, what a horse eats, how much exercise it must get etc. The trainer will bring a horse along and will go through the anatomy of a horse and show the students how to tack up for racing.
Station 2: R.A.C.E – Racing Simulator
Representatives from R.A.C.E (Racing Academy & Centre of Education) are present with their racehorse simulator to talk to the students about their jockey trainee course. An instructor demonstrates, using the racehorse simulator, how to ride a racehorse. Some of the students from each group may have a go on it too.
Station 3: Meet a Jockey – Nina Carberry
The students are brought into the jockey’s weigh room where they meet and speak to a jockey. The jockey explains how he/she became a jockey, what it takes to be a jockey, how he/she prepares for races and answers any questions the students may have.
Station 4: Racecourse Manager – Peter Roe
The students then meet the Racecourse Manager. They learn about how the Racecourse Manager prepares the track/ground for a race day.
Station 5: Front Runner Racing Club – Annmarie Cullen
Annmarie Cullen from ‘Front Runner – Racing Club for Kids’ takes the children during their break and shows them a range of racing equipment, props and visuals that are required for racing, including silks, horse shoes, racing tack, feed, etc. This gives children an insight into racing in a fun and interactive way.
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