Down Royal welcomes students

Students in Northern Ireland are to be given an insight into racing with an exclusive behind-the-scenes day at Down Royal's meeting on Wednesday.

Groups from Lisnagarvey High School and St Patrick's College in Lisburn have a golden opportunity thanks to a partnership between The Prince's Trust and the British Horseracing Authority.

The aim is to give the students an overview of the racing industry, including the range of employment opportunities that exist within the sport, and as a treat for successful completion within a Prince's Trust club.

Down Royal general manager Michael Todd said: "We are delighted to welcome The Prince's Trust and students from Lisnagarvey High School and St. Patrick's College to Down Royal racecourse and to show them the work that goes into making a day at the races possible.

"We hope that they will take away a greater knowledge of the industry and a few ideas about the opportunities that may exist for them within the sport."

This insight into how a day at the races works will start with an introduction by Todd and will be followed by a number of sessions with the people who work behind the scenes.

The students will walk the track with the clerk of the course, visit the stable yard with a veterinary officer, accompany the starter to his position and will get to meet racing official Lorcan Wyer, a former top jump jockey.

BHA chief executive Nic Coward said: "Racing directly employs over 20,000 people, with another 70,000 working in related sectors, so it has a big impact on communities up and down the country - no other sport employs so many people across such a wide range of jobs and locations.

"We, as a sport, want to use this network to help young people and we are grateful to the racecourses and industry employees who have been more than happy to offer their resources to such a worthy cause."

Nick Smith, head of sport development at The Prince's Trust, added: "We have seen how sport can change young lives, helping to develop key workplace skills such as confidence, motivation, teamwork and discipline. Through our partners such as the BHA, we can continue to help thousands of young people."