The Academy

Visiting the North American Racing Academy was an incredible experience. When I arrived and was directed to go to barn #30, home of the horses for the academy, I was about to see my possible school for the next two years. Barn #30 is a large old barn that has a fragrance of fresh hay and horse sweat. When I entered the barn  the jockeys where all saddling up their steeds, getting ready to head to the track. I had a brief introduction with Mr McCarron and then began talking to some of the students as he started checking the jockeys' horses to make sure everything was correct. I talked with several of the students about their typical day and how awesome it is to be taught by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. There aren't many schools, if any at all, that are taught by the top person in that field. Mr. McCarron has a personal relationship with each student and every student respects him. It is like they're one big family. I then walked down to the track and watched them warm up and then breeze the horses. Seeing the jockeys thundering past, riding like one with the horse, made me excited to become a student at the Academy. Since the Academy only allows 16 jockey students a year there is a long wait list and interviews that have to take place. I am anxiously waiting a call from Mr McCarron to schedule an interview and hopefully be granted one of the spots to send me off in my dream to win the Kentucky Derby.