My name is Micheál Nolan.  I am sixteen years old and from Borris, Co. Carlow.  I went to Borris Vocational School. My hobbies are horse racing, hurling and soccer.  I played all these sports for my school.  I won the All-Ireland Inter-Schools Horse Trials for my school in 2005.  I spent three years in Borris Vocational School where I did my Junior Cert. I left school after that to follow my dream of becoming a National Hunt jockey. I then went to RACE to train as an apprentice jockey.

RACE is a school for trainee jockeys. It is located on the edge of Kildare Town, only a stones throw from the Curragh. Trainees do a ten month course here.  It is the best jockey school in the world .  It has excellent facilities provided for the trainee jockeys.  There is a indoor and outdoor arena,  a two furlong sand gallop, a seven unit horse walker and there are thirty two stables in an American style barn. There are also three simulators for jockeys to improve their riding skills.  RACE also offers a FETAC Level 1 education system which enables the trainees to continue their education.  In this there are six subjects: French, Communications, Maths, Information Technology, Personal Effectiveness and Stable and Yard Management.  It is good to have this education to fall back on. There is also an excellent café in RACE where we eat our meals.  In our recreation room we have a pool table, Sky television and a can machine.

After the first three months in RACE each trainee is sent out to a trainer on the Curragh.  I got sent out to a flat trainer called John Oxx.  It is a very good yard to be associated with.  I am only there for six months experience.  I learn a lot about racing there.  John Oxx has been champion trainer in the past, so it is nice to get a chance to work for such a good trainer.  I start work at 6:30 am and finish at 1:00 pm. This means I have to get up at 5:00 am. This is the hardest part, but you soon get used to it.

Even though I got sent to a flat yard I am going to be a National Hunt jockey.  I am 5’’8 and 9 stone.  I am too heavy for the flat.  When I am finished my ten month course I will go back home to County Carlow to work for trainer Tom Foley, where I have been working  for the last five years on my school holidays and Saturdays.  I hope to ride as an amateur for him.  He is a good trainer with lots of good horses.

I really enjoy being here in RACE.  It is nice to come to the same jockey school as Johnny Murtagh, Conor O’Dwyer, Rory Cleary and many more champion jockies.

I think is a very good place for anyone interested in a career with race horses .  You do not have to have any experience to come to RACE.  I would definitely recommend RACE as a good place to go to become a jockey.