Mallow kids enjoy a day at the track

MORE than 200 pupils from five National Schools in the Mallow area been given a taste of life behind the scenes at one of Ireland’s busiest horse racing venues.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) invited the children to the Cork Racecourse in Mallow for a ‘Go Racing Kids’ Club’ day ahead of their two-day October Weekend Festival at the venue on October 14/15.

HRI said the aim of the visit was to educate school children about racing and give them an insight into what happens behind the scenes at a racecourse

“It also builds relationships between a racecourse and the local community, encouraging an affinity with racing that will hopefully produce future racegoers,” said an HRI spokesperson.

In total 230 fifth and sixth year pupils from the Convent NS, Scoil Naisiunta Rathain, Baltydaniel NS, Dromahane NS and St Patrick’s NS took part in the initiative.

During the day they were given the chance to walk the track with foreman Maurice O’Brien and talk to trainer Eugene O’Sullivan and his daughter, amateur rider Maxine, who explained how to train and prepare a racehorse and how a yard prepares for race days.

The children were also shown a range of equipment associated with horse racing and quizzed on their knowledge of the sport.

One of the highlights of the day was the appearance of the Racing Academy & Centre of Excellence (RACE) racehorse simulator, where an instructor talked to the students about the training regime for jockeys. Some students from each of the schools were also lucky enough to get a go on the simulator, getting a feel for what it is like to be in the saddle with a horse running at full pelt.

The day concluded with each of the pupils being given a goodie bag, which included two complimentary tickets for them and their families to the October Weekend Festival at the Mallow track.

The manager at Cork Racecourse, Andrew Hogan, he and the staff at the venue were delighted to be in a position to welcome the children to the racecourse.

“They got a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the run-up to each meeting,” said Mr Hogan.

“We now look forward to welcoming them back with their families for the launch of our National Hunt winter season,” he added.

Pupils from St Patrick’s NS getting familiar with some racing paraphernalia during their visit to the Cork Racecourse, Mallow for the ‘Go Racing Kids Club’ Education Day.

Racetrack foreman Maurice O’Brien enjoying a light-hearted moment with children from Baltydaniel National School at the Cork Racecourse, Mallow. Photos: Sean Jefferies Photography.

Children from the Convent National School listening to a talk from trainer Eugene O’Sullivan and his daughter, amateur jockey Maxine.

Pupils from Scoil Naisiunta Rathain being introduced to the racehorse Free Code during the ‘Go Racing Kids Club Entertainment day.

A pupil from Dromahane NS on the RACE simulator.