Multiple Grade 1 winning jockey Danny Mullins launches The Road To Racing

In conjunction with HRI Racing Juniors, multiple Grade 1 winning jump jockey Danny Mullins visited his former primary school, Gowran national school in County Kilkenny today to launch a four-part horse racing educational video series aimed at primary school children.

The Road To Racing primary school programme gives children the opportunity to join Danny on an educational journey through horse racing, to see what goes on behind the scenes in a racing yard, to meet the people who work there and the racehorses they look after. The children will receive a virtual riding lesson and Danny will chat about his first introduction to horses, how he became a jockey, his day-to-day routine and his most memorable days on the racecourse.

Each of The Road To Racing videos are approximately five minutes long and comes with a corresponding worksheet for both junior and senior classes to help put the children’s learnings into practice.

The final worksheet gives pupils the chance to design a set of racing silks for Danny. Two winning classes will have their racing silks produced – one set for junior students and one set for senior students. Pupils will be invited to see Danny wearing the racing silks, either on the gallops or at a racecourse. The school will also get a set of the silks to keep as a memento.

Kilkenny-jockey Danny Mullins, said: “I’m delighted to work on The Road To Racing primary school programme with Horse Racing Ireland and help in any way I can to teach the next generation about racehorses and a sport that I love. We had good fun making the four-part series and I hope the children will enjoy the four videos and worksheets and learn a little bit about racing and thoroughbreds along the way. Most of my family is involved in racing, so I’m keen to share that passion with the pupils of my former primary school, Gowran National School today, and all the children who take part in the programme online.”

Participation in The Road To Racing primary school programme is free. Teachers are encouraged to register at www.goracing.ie/the-road-to-racing to receive access to the four episodes and to download the worksheets and racing silks design templates.

Episode Guide

Episode one: The stables
In episode one, Danny Mullins introduces The Road To Racing series and brings children on a tour of a racing yard, explaining some of the different equipment and facilities for the horses such as the stables, the horse walker, the arena, and gallops and what they are used for. He also introduces some of the people who work in racing yards such as the trainer, jockey and stable staff and explains their day-to-day jobs and the care they give to the racehorses and explains the role of the jockeys, trainer and stable staff.

Episode two: Neighs to meet you
In episode two ‘Neighs To Meet You’ children will get to know some of the racehorses in a racing yard and hear about their daily routine. Danny will explain the different body parts of a racehorse and demonstrate how to groom racehorses and why it is so important for their general well-being.

Episode three: Giddy up
In episode three, it’s time to saddle up and learn how to ride a racehorse. Danny explains how to ride a racehorse with the help of former jockey Ken Whelan and racehorse Genesta. Danny, along with Ken and Genesta, demonstrates the important exercise routine for racehorses from warming up, walking, trotting, cantering and galloping. Danny will show the children the safety equipment jockeys and riders wear and the equipment horses wear while training and racing.

Episode four: Raceday ready
After learning about the stables, the horses and how to ride a racehorse. In episode four students are now raceday ready! The episode starts off learning about Danny’s first introduction to horses and his journey to becoming a jockey, his first winner and some of his favourite days in the saddle.