graduation

A total of 28 students celebrated June 26 after successfully completing a comprehensive six-month programme designed to prepare them for careers in the thoroughbred industry. The ceremony feting the 2024 Class of the Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course took place at the Irish National Stud, Co Kildare. The event, hosted by Leo Powell, began with formal addresses from Irish National Stud Board Member Clodagh Kavanagh, who delivered a speech on behalf of Chairman Dan Flinter and CEO Cathal Beale. Grace Hamilton (USA) and Tadgh McGuinness (Ireland) delivered a keynote speech on...

The 2024 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place in the Cape Cross Centre at Kildangan Stud in Ireland on the afternoon of Friday, June 14. Invited guests included the parents of the graduating class, Godolphin management and University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School representatives who have supported the Flying Start trainees throughout their two years on the programme. Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin UK and Dubai and trustee of Godolphin Flying Start, said, "On behalf of the global Godolphin team, I congratulate this graduating class and wish...

The graduation ceremony for the latest round of students to complete the Godolphin Flying Start programme took place last Friday at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. "On behalf of the global Godolphin team, I congratulate this graduating class and wish them success and encouragement for their futures in the thoroughbred industry," said Joe Osborne, managing director of Godplphin Ireland and a trustee of Godolphin Flying Start. Australian graduate Lachlan Pethica achieved the highest grade of a distinction award, heading a group of 12 trainees from six countries, including Elinor Wolf (USA),...

The inaugural class of nine students from the Riding A Dream Academy have graduated from its scholarship programme. Set up after Khadijah Mellah became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race, the Riding A Dream Academy offers the year-long Khadijah Mellah Scholarship which was established to help other young people aged 14-18 from diverse and underrepresented communities get into racing and to increase diversity and inclusion in the sport. The Academy is funded by the Racing Foundation, with additional support from the Jockey Club and Champion...

Following a rollercoaster two-year period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place in the Cape Cross centre at Kildangan Stud in Ireland June 24. The Godolphin Flying Start program is accredited by the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. Among those addressing the graduating class and assembled guests, Helen Brophy, Director of Smurfit Executive Development at UCD and Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin Ireland and Trustee of Godolphin Flying Start. "On behalf of the global...

Finding affordable quality day care is a struggle most working parents face, but for parents working on the backstretches of America's racetracks, the combination of low pay and early hours make it even more of a challenge. For years, too many backstretch parents were forced to leave their children in less-than-ideal situations or drive to work at 5 a.m. with their kids sleeping in the back of their car. But in the late 1990s, after talking to his good friend Jerry Bailey about the situation, Michael Dubb took matters into...

The Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Course, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, enjoyed a more low-key event than usual Friday, June 25 to celebrate the graduation of the class of 2021. Heading this season's award winners, Jake Scott Campbell, Co. Kildare received the Gold Medal, which is presented to someone who has demonstrated an outstanding performance in all aspects of the course. The Silver Medal being awarded to Lachlan Pethica from Australia. The INS 'Jonathan Fitzpatrick Internship' was awarded to Benjamin Shoare from West Sussex, England, who will...

The graduation ceremony for the 2021 National Stud Diploma took place Friday, June 25. Numbers were limited due to the extension of COVID-19 restrictions, however, students were joined by staff and parents with additional guests joining via a live stream from the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre. The assessment of the Diploma is comprised of practical work, an exam based on the Evening Lecture Program and a commercial broodmare selection project. "We feel really lucky to have been able to have some, if not all guests, in attendance this year," said...

The 2020 Godolphin Flying Start Class graduated via Zoom Webinar on July 1, Godolphin announced on Wednesday. The two-year programme is accredited by the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. The 12 trainees were virtually presented with their graduation certificates by Godolphin USA Chief Operating Officer Dan Pride. Led by Anna Power (Australia) who compiled the highest grade, the 11 other trainees are: Nico Archdale (UK), Lucy Blake (Ireland), Corbin Blumberg (USA), John Bourke (Ireland), Samantha Cripps (USA), Luke Evans (UK), Liza Hendriks...

Despite the ongoing restrictions due to the coronavirus, the 2020 National Stud Diploma ceremony took place via live stream from the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre on Friday, the stud announced on Saturday. Besides receiving a National Stud Diploma in Stud Practice and Management, the graduates also earned a 1st 4 Sport Level 3 Certificate in Thoroughbred Stud Practice. Chairman Nicholas Wrigley presented the certificates, as well as the annual prizes, including the Tim Dunlop Memorial Award for the top student-Anna Hodgson, who will be joining the team at the Castlebridge...