Racing Staff Q&A: Ed Walker's assistant travelling head girl Jessica Daw

The invaluable role played by stable, stud and racecourse staff has been recognised by Racing Staff Week, which began on Saturday. Sponsored by Betfair, it 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 Jessica Daw
Age 26
Job Assistant travelling head girl to Ed Walker

How did you first get involved with racing?
It started after my A-levels when I first went to the British Racing School having never heard of it before, and I thought it sounded quite fun. Then I worked at a yard and started at Hartbury College to study equine management and had some experience riding out alongside it – it was great.

What does your role involve?
I ride out most mornings as much as I am required to and then I travel to the races. At the races I will be responsible for saddling up, representing the trainer, getting the horse ready and making sure everything runs smoothly with the right colours and tack. I really enjoy it, I love the variation of the job as you get to mix both sides of it and you are always on the go.

You mentioned the British Racing School, how was your experience learning there?
It was absolutely brilliant. I would not be in racing now if I hadn't had gone there. I was not even thinking about it as a career so it was a real starting point for me. It is a great place, there are people who go there who have never sat on a horse before then by the time they leave they can ride a racehorse and go and work in the industry.

And how did the BHA Graduate Programme benefit your career?
It was an incredible opportunity with some great people. I got to meet a lot of people from all corners of the industry which I learnt a lot from. Then the placement I had – at the BHA – gave me a really useful insight into the workings of a racecourse operations team. It has helped me a lot in this role too.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
You get to know the horses really well, in my job I get to go from riding them to taking them to the races which is great. The emotional connection is massive, seeing them come through as two-year-olds right to the races is incredibly exciting. You get so involved, as does everyone in the yard, with it right from the start so seeing them win a race is really good.

And what is the most challenging aspect?
I suppose it would be the unsociable hours. You are up early in the morning and you don't get back until quite late so it definitely more of a lifestyle job. It can depend on the times of the races, but the other day, at Bath, the last race was at 9pm and we left an hour after the last so you get back quite late.

There have been some late summer nights at Bath this yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

What are your future ambitions in the industry?
I'm really enjoying what I'm doing at the minute so I'm just trying to take any opportunity that comes along. I haven't planned any of it, I just wait for the opportunities to come about. As long as I am doing what I enjoy and challenging myself then I'm happy.

What advice would you give to young people thinking about working in racing?
Definitely do it! Give it your all and be 100 per cent committed to it, turn up and work hard and you will get a lot of rewards from it.

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