This was the first of 6 Schools days planned for 2010, the other 5 dates are:
• Wednesday 28th September – Dundalk (racing on 3rd Oct)
• Tuesday 5th October – Limerick (racing on 10th Oct – Munster National day)
• Tuesday 12th October – Naas (racing on 17th Oct – Birdcatcher day)
• Tuesday 19th October – Cork (racing on 31st Oct – Cork National day)
• Tuesday 16th November – Gowran Park (racing on 20th Nov)
Limerick Racecourse Photos.
As part of the tour there are 4 stations including:
1. A Trainer – brings a racehorse and describes how to train a racehorse, how their yard gets ready for a big race day, what a horse eats, how much exercise it must get, demonstrates how to saddle up, etc.
2. A Jockey - brings the pupils into the inner sanctum, the weigh room, where they get to see and feel all the jockeys gear from a saddle to the racing silks, their safety equipment including skull cap, back protector, goggles, etc. The Jockey will give a general talk about horse racing to the children, how he rides in a race and take any questions they may have.
3. RACE - the Racing Academy & Centre of Education talk through how to become a jockey, get a job in the industry, they bring a young apprentices to demonstrate their simulator on the day (some lucky students will also be able to sit on the simulator and feel what its like to ride a racehorse).
4: Racecourse Manager – brings the children through the preparation for a race day and on a tour of the Racecourse, including walking some of the track and seeing a fence/starting stalls up close and how the fences are made.