Training legend Gai Waterhouse will be at the forefront of a Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) push to encourage university graduates to pursue a career in racing.
Tulloch Lodge, the renowned stable Waterhouse runs with training partner Adrian Bott, has thrown its support behind a new pathway for the next generation of potential industry leaders.
As well as being one of Australia’s most successful racehorse trainers, Waterhouse’s role as a mentor in the racing industry is also highly valued.
Graduates of her stable include bloodstock and breeding figures James Harron, Henry Field and Bruce Slade as well as Inglis’ Harry Bailey.
Mark Newnham was a long-time Tulloch Lodge jockey and trackwork rider who became an assistant trainer before opening a stable in Sydney en route to securing a Hong Kong contract.
“We have to keep looking at how we bring young, talented people into the industry and I think this is a wonderful way to do it,” Waterhouse said.
“We are very much looking forward to having somebody join our team on their internship.”
The pathway will allow university leavers to learn from some of the biggest names associated with world racing, breeding and wagering.
Those accepted onto the course will undertake a two-week educational block based at Flemington racecourse, before starting an internship with a major employer.
Tulloch Lodge will join global wagering firm Entain, racing and breeding superpowers Godolphin and Yulong, bloodstock auction houses Magic Millions and Inglis, the Victoria Racing Club and the Melbourne Racing Club as high-profile industry companies and bodies who are right behind the scheme.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone hoping to work in the thoroughbred industry,” TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said.
In the UK, the British Horseracing Authority has run a highly successful graduate program for 30 years, with many executives across the industry having completed the course.
TBA aims to attract 10 to 12 graduates in the first year, with an introduction block starting in late January 2025.
Graduates will join an employer for a paid internship of at least six weeks.
“We have a huge industry, employing around 80,000 people, but until now there hasn’t been a pathway in place for us to try to recruit talented young people who can progress into leadership roles,” Reilly said.
“The aim of the learning block is to open the graduates’ eyes to all aspects of the industry and show them the different career options open to them.”
The learning block will feature lectures and workshops on everything from creating a wagering market, selecting a yearling, through to marketing a racing carnival and learning how the handicapping system works.
“We have to keep looking at how we bring young, talented people into the industry and I think this is a wonderful way to do it” - Gai Waterhouse
Entain deputy chief executive and chief financial officer Lachlan Fitt believes the scheme can be a groundbreaker for potential racing professionals.
“This program offers young people a unique chance to see every side of the racing industry, from breeding to race-day operations to wagering,” he said.
“At Entain, we know the value of fostering new talent, and this program is a real game-changer for anyone serious about a future in thoroughbred racing.
“In today’s industry, hands-on experience and mentorship from leading organisations are key to building the next generation of racing professionals, and that’s exactly what this program offers.”
The graduate program builds on TBA’s established education and training programs, such as the national breeding traineeship, Fast Track, and TBA Learning, a free online platform with more than 1000 students enrolled in its courses.
“I’m very grateful to Kylie Rogers and the VRC for jumping on board and providing space for the learning block,” Reilly said.
“I’m sure being based out of Flemington will be inspiring to the graduates.”
