TDN Q & A With Tessa Hetherington

This is the second installment in an ongoing series where current trainees of Godolphin Flying Start sit down with graduates of the programme to discuss their career successes. In this second installment, second-year trainee Alayna Cullen catches up with Tessa Hetherington, who is trainer Andrew Balding's racing manager.

Before I applied for the Godolphin Flying Start, I would spend hours upon hours trawling through the CVs and profiles of current trainees. Each time I did, I was amazed at how knowledgeable and experienced they were. When I came upon Tessa Hetherington's CV, I was blown away by her credentials. Having graduated from the course in 2014, Tessa took up a position with Andrew Balding installing herself amongst one of racing's oldest and most loved families, as well as the beautiful surroundings of Kingsclere which has been the home to so many racing superstars. The alumni network that Godolphin Flying Start creates, allows trainees to garner a lot of support worldwide and with Tessa's legal background, we know where to turn should we ever get in trouble. While Tessa is braving the cold elements of an English winter, I decided to interview her from my sunny seat in Australia.

AC: Tell me a little about your path to Flying Start?

TH: My grandmother worked with show horses (many of them thoroughbreds) all her life–she taught me to ride and I worked for her employers at weekends and during school holidays. My father is a racing fan and used to take me racing as a child, so I had the bug from a young age. I ended up studying law at university and, having enjoyed it and shown an aptitude for it, I then became a barrister (a courtroom lawyer). I pursued this career for seven years, but was never truly happy in the role. The work was interesting and rewarding, but I felt keenly the responsibility for my clients and that was stressful. I also wasn't enjoying the lifestyle–I have always been happiest outside, with horses. I began to think about a career in racing and attended a short course at the British Racing School, which I found fascinating. One of the other delegates on the course encouraged me to apply for Flying Start, and this turned out to be excellent advice.

AC: Horse racing has been coined a drug, as someone who had an established career outside of horse racing, what was it about the industry that called you back?

TH: Principally, my love of horses and the opportunity to work with some of the most beautiful and talented examples of the species, but also the breadth and depth of the industry. There are so many different roles within it, calling for so many different skills. You meet all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds and learn new things all the time.

AC: What does your role with Andrew Balding consist of?

TH: My job title is Racing Manager, but in truth my job includes a bit of everything. I spend most mornings out with the horses, helping the Assistant Trainer and Head Lads, helping with vet work, swimming horses, showing owners around, watching training and taking photographs. In the afternoons I am office-based and assist Andrew with race planning, form analysis and owner updates. I run the yard website and put together our yard magazine. I saddle horses at the races, shortlist for Andrew at the yearling sales and often run our consignment when we are selling horses. Every third weekend, I stand in for a Head Lad, feeding and checking legs etc.

AC: What aspects of Flying Start prepared you for the role?

TH: It would be easier to list the aspects of Flying Start that I don't use in my role! Particularly useful was the time we spent assessing horses' conformation and learning how this affects their performance–this has been invaluable in assessing horses for purchase and in managing them in training. The fact that we did this in a variety of countries, also means that I feel confident assessing a yearling with an American or Australian pedigree, and this can often be where value lies at the European sales. During Flying Start, I also did individual placements with the trainers Graham Motion, Paul Messara and Gai Waterhouse and these were a great opportunity to learn about and compare different training methods and to gather ideas. A day spent with one of the British Horseracing Authority handicappers taught me skills I use most days in analysing form, whilst my proficiency in Microsoft Excel has revolutionised Andrew's sales shortlists and our use of other data within the yard.

AC: What has been a career highlight for you thus far?

TH: This year we sold a colt called Real Dominion (Cape Blanco {Ire}) at the Tattersalls October Horses In Training sale for 350,000gns, a yard record for a sale at public auction. I had picked Real Dominion out as a yearling at Tattersalls two years previously, not long after I had started working for Andrew, and had seen him arrive in the yard and develop from a leggy yearling into a lovely strong racehorse. I went up with him to the Horses In Training sale, where he was extremely popular. He was out of his box more than he was in it, but he looked magnificent and was exceptionally well behaved–I was so proud of him. To see him sell so well was fantastic and, whilst I cannot claim any credit for that, it was a real highlight to have been involved at all stages of his time with the yard.

AC: What advice would you give an aspiring Flying Start applicant?

TH: Go for it! But be prepared–you need a genuine and strong commitment to the industry and you need to have enough industry and life experience to show this and to cope with the rigours of the course. As my story shows, however, having a less traditional background is no bar to being accepted onto Flying Start. If you are fortunate enough to gain a place, then throw yourself into it and make the most of all the wonderful opportunities you are given.

AC: We are heading into the holiday season, what is your tip to surviving the festivities?

TH: The festive season is a four-mile chase, not a five-furlong sprint. Pace yourself!