Racing Ahead

The Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) is a training academy and registered charity in Kildare, Ireland, which offers courses for jockeys and others involved in horseracing. Until 2023, RACE ran a 42-week residential course for aspiring jockeys and stable staff. Graduates of the course include Johnny Murtagh, Seamie Heffernan, Chris Hayes, Cathy Gannon, Daryl Jacob and Brian Hughes. In 2023 the academy was forced to close its residential blocks for safety reasons. As of 2025, RACE offers a six-week jockey preparation course (followed by a six-week placement with a trainer), as well as courses in equine nutrition, transport, schooling and administration. All courses are non-residential. There are also junior academy days. The Irish School of Farriery run by the Irish Farriery Authority is located in a purpose-built building on the RACE campus, and several other organisations involved in the equine sector are also based there. RACE is funded (as of 2023) by the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Kildare-Wicklow Education Training Board, and a percentage of racing prize money.