Curragh hosts latest Kids' Club day Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) held the latest in their "Go Racing Kids’ Club" Day's at The Curragh Racecourse on Tuesday when 391 5th and 6th class pupils from local schools took part in demonstrations from RACE (Racing Academy & Centre of Education) and Farrier Donal Bennett. They also heard talks from jockey Ben Curtis and local trainers Michael Grassick and Dessie Hughes. 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 race-goers. 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 Kid’s Club" goodie bag at the end of the day which included complimentary tickets for racing at The Curragh Racecourse 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 the Curragh with the winning drawing and essay to be announced at the races this Sunday. The Curragh's Commercial Manager Evan Arkwright said, “We are delighted to support such a positive and innovative project that will ultimately help nurture an interest and understanding of horse racing for children from our locality.” HRI's PR Manager Tamso Doyle said, “HRI has completed 11 "Go Racing Kids’ Club" days so far since we launched in September 2010. They have been a very positive experience and we’ve had great support from the racecourses and industry. "We have a further four planned before Christmas 2011 at Galway, Wexford, Punchestown and Fairyhouse and we hope to do more in 2012 to nurture race-goers of the future.”
