Just over 12 months ago a forum was held in Newmarket to consider the opportunities and challenges facing the racing industry across the world in the areas of education and community engagement and development. In attendance were prominent industry figures from Britain, Ireland, France, America, Japan and Australia and the momentum created by this event, along with a shared mission to promote educational opportunities, has grown into a global initiative that now provides a platform and network for continuing the work, called Together for Racing International (TfRI). Evidence of tangible benefits of the alliance is mounting all the time and one such example emanates from the community of Moyross in Limerick.
Moyross has evolved over the decades into an area of the city known mostly for anti-social behaviour, crime, unemployment and a general lack of prospects for its inhabitants. However, excellent work has been going on for some time now by the Moyross Youth Academy in guiding teenagers towards a life that does not involve crime and that work is set to be highlighted further by TfRI. The common denominator in all this is the horse and the urban horse in particular, for so long a much-needed distraction for youths hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds. This innate interest in horses is the driving force that will hopefully lead to the Moyross Youth Academy acting as a pre-school of sorts for suitable candidates in the area who hope to gain a place in institutions like the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) and to ultimately forge a successful career in the racing industry.
Andrew O’Byrne is one of those working with children in the Moyross Youth Academy and he is looking forward to continuing on the great progress already made in the community. “It’s great for us that the racing industry recognises some of the work that is going on in the background which isn’t directly associated with the industry,” O’Byrne said. Expanding on the background of the academy, O’Byrne, whose roots are in the education industry, added, “I work for the Garda Youth Diversion Project in Moyross which is funded through the Department of Justice. Moyross has a history of social problems and our job is to engage with the young people in the area to try and keep them on the right track through education and career pathways. Horses are and always have been present in the area and we felt that utilising this interest in horses was the best way to engage with a large number of teenagers. However, we didn’t want it to be just about going horse riding for an hour, so the programme is also about fitness, nutrition, responsibility and a possible career pathway. We also put just as much emphasis on horse welfare because we all know that a few bad headlines can undo a lot of great work that goes on unreported so we are very mindful of that.”
One way to measure the success of a programme is to monitor the progress of its alumni and the Moyross Academy is looking forward to one of its former proteges Wesley Joyce making his debut as a jockey in 2021. Joyce was accepted into RACE via the Moyross programme and is now signed on as apprentice to Johnny Murtagh.
“We are delighted with the progress Wesley has made and he is the ninth young lad from here to have been accepted into RACE,” O’Byrne said. “However, we have had a number of other candidates who didn’t fare as well and it’s from looking into the reasons why they may not have succeeded that we can improve the way we can prepare these young people for the challenges they will face. Whether it’s preparing them to be away from home, developing independent living skills, or improving their overall awareness of the racing industry. As a result, part of the programme now includes access and insights into the industry through trips to RACE, to race meetings, to point to points, to the National Stud and meeting various people who can give insight into their particular field of expertise, whether its jockeys, farriers or stud staff. We have a great picture of Wesley back in 2015 when he was 12 and Johnny Murtagh is talking to him. Now five years later Wesley is working for Johnny and that is very rewarding for us.”
Such is the regard the Moyross project is held that the Irish Department of Agriculture is now providing funding for the academy to be rolled out to include other parts of Limerick city.
“We are now working with 10 schools in the city incorporating six-week programmes that culminate with industry visits while there is also a focus on animal welfare and what it actually takes to look after a horse from a nutritional point of view as well as basic husbandry. If students show an interest in taking things further after this six week programme we can then engage with them regarding their future options.”
In a time when finding good staff to work in studs and training yards can be quite difficult, the work being carried out in Limerick dovetails very well with the role played by RACE within the industry and it would appear the two organisations will be working closely over the coming years.
“Our connection with the Moyross Academy goes back about 10 years and it began with just a few visiting groups who were keen to get an insight into racing and then it progressed to where there were some students who showed an interest in forging a career in racing and it was felt a more structured environment like RACE would provide them with the best opportunity of developing that career, whether it was as a jockey or a work rider or a groom,” said Director of RACE Keith Rowe. “There were a number of students for whom it didn’t work out for different reasons so we have tweaked the approach over the years to give those interested a more extensive grounding through the Moyross pathway before they get accepted here into RACE. We realised a few years ago that the earlier you can engage with these kids from disadvantaged areas the better chance they have of going the distance. Andrew and the team in Moyross are excellent and they get to know the kids very well. Apart from introducing them to the industry on the away days they make sure the kids work on their own personal development and show a commitment to turning up for continuous training and coaching. So it is through this commitment also that the kids earn their place on each subsequent round of education. This gives those kids who are serious about grasping an opportunity to go down a more fruitful and meaningful life path a chance to do just that.”
Of Joyce, Rowe said, “Young Wesley [Joyce] had been coming up to us on and off for about five years before he started the trainee jockey course. In fact, when he first officially trialled for the course he didn’t get accepted. While no doubt disappointed at the time it gave him the opportunity to work on a few things and then when he was accepted the following year he was more mature and better prepared. He is a great example of someone who has walked the pathway from the beginning and has shown all the attributes of someone who will have a successful career in racing.”
Joyce said, “RACE is where I felt the plan to become a jockey got very real for me. They set me up on placement with Johnny Murtagh and that’s where I work now. It’s the best yard in the country at the moment. We’re turning out winner after winner so it’s a very exciting place to be. The work is hard but very rewarding, there’s a real team spirit there. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, I’m learning my trade from one of the best.”
While the link-up between Moyross and RACE has been ongoing for a number of years it has taken time to bed down and is probably only now beginning to gain the traction that should lead to a greater number of students gaining access to RACE. One reason for this is the inspiration bestowed to prospective students by some Moyross natives who have graduated from RACE and have gone on to work in racing yards. “We had a very good lad who came through RACE who although he didn’t apply for a jockey’s license he became a great role model for the kids at home in Moyross,” Rowe said. “The kids who would come up for the day trips used to be in awe of him and he was treated like their local hero who had broken out and done something worthwhile with his life.”
There is no doubt racing can provide a way of life for someone who through no fault of their own was not offered the chances early in life that the majority of us often take for granted. And as well as being a great initiative for disadvantaged teenagers, the Moyross/RACE association also has the potential to help provide a much-needed workforce for the racing and bloodstock industry.
“Racing suffers from perception issues sometimes so it’s definitely a win-win situation,” Rowe said. “Historically, racing wouldn’t be renowned for social inclusion but that is changing and at the same time racing is struggling to attract people to come and work in the industry. So we need to throw the net wider but we need to offer people more and provide not just a job, but also a path to career progression. Between ourselves in RACE and the guys in Moyross hopefully we are providing hope for a disadvantaged community while at the same time developing future fans and people who will work and contribute to our great sport.”
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