Victoria’s Marcus Oldham College will end its long-running equine program, a revered higher education course which has helped launch the careers of an array of thoroughbred industry personnel.
Group 1-winning trainers, racing managers, bloodstock agents, successful breeders and auctioneers have graduated from the 12-month equine business course to forge their own pathway in the thoroughbred industry.
They include trainers Henry Dwyer and Cliff Brown, both of whom have enjoyed success on the international stage, racing managers and bloodstock agents Jeremy Rogers and Luke Wilkinson, Sledmere Stud principal Treen Murphy and Stonehouse Thoroughbreds’ Ryan Arnel.
Inglis’ Brett Gilding and Ciaron Maher Racing’s bloodstock manager Will Bourne are also Marcus Oldham alumni.
Despite a distinguished honour roll, next year’s intake of about 15 students will be the Marcus Oldham equine course’s final graduates, with the Geelong-based college blaming a continual decline in enrolments for the decision.
The trend is in stark contrast to what was occurring with Marcus Oldham’s agribusiness and agriculture courses, where students' applications exceed the places available.
It is believed that in the early to mid-2000s, enrolments for the two agriculture-focused courses and equine studies were on par, but that is no longer the case.
An independent review into the ongoing viability of the equine course, undertaken early in 2024, recommended it be discontinued and the Marcus Oldham board adopted the finding.
“Despite recent curriculum updates aligning it with our agricultural and agribusiness programs, enrolment numbers have not reached a sustainable level,” Marcus Oldham said in a statement.
Rogers has carved out a successful career in the racing industry since graduating from the course in 1998 and was disappointed to see it axed, although he understands the reasoning behind the decision.
“The thing with the course was the contacts you were able to make. You got introduced to people that everyday people would never be introduced to,” Rogers told The Straight.
“My first couple of jobs outside of Marcus Oldham was all through my association with Marcus Oldham.
“I went to England because Shadwell Stud sent Marcus Oldham an email if anyone was interested in going to work for them, so I did that, and then when it was time to come back to Australia, after my visa had run out, Waikato Studs got in contact with Marcus Oldham and I got a job there.
“It's just the networking and the contacts you're able to meet when you're at Marcus which was unbelievable. These kids are now not going to get that opportunity.”
Rogers currently acts as racing manager for Ballarat-based trainer Archie Alexander as well as running his own bloodstock agency.
Working out of Ballarat’s Dowling Forest racecourse, Rogers also operates near past graduate Dwyer, who this year campaigned sprinting mare Asfoora in England where she won the Group 1 King’s Stand at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.
Brown is also a Group 1-winning trainer who ran a stable at Kranji in Singapore for a long time before returning to Victoria to continue his career in 2021.
Marcus Oldham says it deeply values the contribution of its equine program graduates to the legacy of the Victorian educator.
“As alumni, you remain valued members of the Marcus Oldham College community and will continue to be included in college functions, year-level reunions, and featured in the MOCOSA magazine, among other alumni engagement opportunities,” it said.
Warwick Barr
“Our alumni outreach team remains dedicated to fostering connections and providing networking and professional development opportunities.
“We are committed to ensuring the continued success of our equine program graduates in their respective fields.”
