Learner Case Studies

On leaving school at 16, Katie attended the Northern Racing College and attained her NVQ Levels 1 and 2.

She worked in a racing yard, which gave her the experience and confidence to ride as an Amateur Jockey and train her own horses under permit.

Keen to build on this grounding, and with support from both the Northern Racing College and British Horseracing Authority, she decided to study for two A-Levels at night school whilst working in the racing yard as well as completing her NVQ L3 with the Northern Racing College. This enabled her to get onto a degree course at the University of Plymouth.

In 1999 she graduated and secured a place on the British Horseracing Authority’s Graduate Development Programme. Since then she has worked in racecourse management including seven years as General Manager at Hereford Racecourse and is now Clerk of the Course at Bath Racecourse.

Emma was a student at the NRC in 2003 when she commenced her Apprenticeship. Before arriving at the college she achieved A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Sheffield College.

Emma achieved her Key Skills and NVQ Level 1 and 2 and, with support from the NRC, secured a placement at the prestigious Herringswell Bloodstock Centre where she learnt to break and educate young horses that later went into training with the legendary Sir Mark Prescott.

Emma secured a position as head groom to trainer John White. She then went on to Lindsay Park Racing Stables in South Australia. Here she worked under trainer David Hayes who sent out over 8000 winners, including a Japan Cup, three Melbourne Cups, six Victoria Derbys and five Australian Cups. Upon returning to Britain Emma worked for Newmarket handler William Jarvis and then as a key member of Julie Camacho’s team in Malton.

Maintaining contact with the NRC, Emma joined the College as an instructor in 2005 and in 2008 became a part of the Roving Instructor team. Having achieved an impressive array of career enhancing qualifications including a Certificate in Education, Assessor and Verifier Qualifications and NVQ Level 3 in Racehorse Care and Management, Emma has recently embarked on a Foundation Degree with Warwickshire College.

On leaving school, Matt attended the Northern Racing College, firstly on the Foundation Course and then went onto an Apprenticeship to learn basic stable care duties and riding skills for a role in racing yard. He completed his NVQ Level 1 and 2 and was placed with Simon Dow, at Epsom and quickly worked his way up to Assistant Trainer.

His interest in media and racing led him to a position of Epsom and the South Correspondent for the Racing Post, where he became a feature writer and contributed to news stories. He was also appointed Racing Editor of the Racing Post website and worked for the Racing Post for 14 years in a freelance capacity.

Achievement of NVQ Level 3 through the NRC gave him the breadth of knowledge and skills to further develop his career in the industry and he acted as Agent to a highly successful National Hunt Jockey as well as holding the role as Syndicate Manager and Bloodstock Advisor to E & S Racing.

His latest role in racing is as Sky Bet Racecourse Public Relations Officer where he is the key contact for all press enquiries, including betting disputes and points of contention under the rules of racing. He is called on to relay betting odds, market movers, specials and offers at Racing UK meetings and makes regular appearances on Sky Sports and skysports.com as the betting expert for Sky Bet.

Hayley Turner is unquestionably the most famous female jockey in the United Kingdom. A rider from an early age, Hayley chose racing – and specifically being a jockey – following attending a taster session at the Northern Racing College. Hayley then attended the Foundation Course at the college from August to October 1999. She went on to complete her Apprenticeship in November 2000.

In 2005 she became only the fourth woman ever to ‘ride out her claim’ and achieve full professional status. In the same year she became the first female Champion Apprentice and is now considered as one of the top ten jockeys in the country. Amongst other achievements, she is the first woman ever to ride 100 winners in a season and this year became the first British woman ever to ride two Group One winners.

Her success has paved the way for other female jockeys such as Kirsty Milczarek, Kelly Harrison and Cathy Gannon and she continues to inspire others by her role as ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and her pure determination and ambition.