I love riding out. I don't think I could go very long without it

The invaluable role played by stable, stud and racecourse staff has been recognised by Racing Staff Week, which began on Saturday.

Sponsored by Betfair, the week is designed to inform and engage racegoers and backers of the sport, while rewarding those who dedicate their working lives to the racing and bloodstock industries.

This week we speak to those who spend their lives supporting the sport, day in, day out.

Name Cheryl Armstrong

Age 27

Job Head girl for Charlie Fellowes

What does your job involve day-to-day? I'm one of the head lads so I'll be in the yard early in the mornings to feed the horses and I check them in the evenings. I spend a lot of my time in the yard these days, but I do get to go racing too.

How did you end up working for Charlie? I worked up north for Linda Perratt originally but left for four years to become a support worker for kids. It was a good job and something I could pick up again in later life but I missed the lifestyle – there's a good social side of racing and there's good people in it. I wanted some more opportunities in racing so I moved down to Newmarket. I joined Charlie three years ago and have been here since. You're either for this type of life or not and once you're in it, I think you're in it for life.

Have you always been interested in racing and horses? Yes, my mum always had horses and I had ponies growing up. When I was younger I'd go and help out at weekends at Linda's, and when I left school I did extended work experience there.

What do you enjoy most about your job? All of it. I love riding out – I don't think I could go very long without it. I've learnt a lot from the other two head lads here. Racing is great because you can go to so many different places, whereas if you go to a riding school you're a bit stuck.

. . . and the most challenging? The horses do have minds of their own! It would probably be the early mornings. I'm up at 4.30am to feed and bandage any horses and put them on the walker before exercise. Our first lot pulls out at 6.30am.

The stable staff crisis is a big topic at the moment, how can racing attract new people to the sport? There doesn't seem to be as many people going through the racing schools these days. You can't really say change the hours as horses need constant care.

Have you had any memorable moments or experiences whilst working in racing? I've met some amazing people. I loved riding in races – I had a few rides up north when I was younger – I learnt a lot from that. There aren't as many opportunities up north but race riding absolutely helped me, anyone can canter a horse up a gallop but in a race you get a different feel from a horse in a race.

Do you have any yard favourites? Snazzy! She's a nice filly, she's done well for us and I've looked after her since she was a yearling. As a character she's quite easy to deal with but she can be stubborn, sometimes if you need to get past she just won't move! Prince Of Arran has also been brilliant for us winning out in Dubai.

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