ELKTON, Md.--Temple Gwathmey announed that two daughters and a son of three of steeplechasing's top trainers have been chosen as participants for the Developing Rider trip to Ireland, to be held tentatively July 18 - 26.

Taylor Kingsley (Photo by Tod Marks)Taylor Kingsley of Camden, S.C., daughter of Arch Kingsley, Tom Young of West Grove, Pa., son of Paddy and Leslie Young,  and Eliza Edwards of West Grove, Pa., daughter of Toby Edwards, are going on the trip that will be a hands-on experience for riders interested in a career in steeplechase racing.

Participants were selected based on their their riding strengths and history, career aspirations, recommendations from licensed trainers, and their professionalism when interacting with TGSF board members and when observed during their time in the industry.

These three were selected from a pool of seven highly qualified applicants.

"Taylor is 16,"said Arch Kingsley. "She did some pony racing, and she was chosen by U.S. Pony Racing to go on a trip to Abu Dhabi, which we all did as a family trip.

 

"TAYLOR turned 16 last October and rode in a flat race at Charleston in November. She gallops out for me and schools horses for me. She's an avid fox hunter.She getsup in the morning and beats me to the barn to get the horses ready and braided. Wehunt with Camden.

Tom Young (Photo by Tod Marks)"She's so excited about this trip. She's really pumped about the whole thing, She wants to do the best she can with th e opportunities she get.

"She follows European racing and studies Amrican steeplechase racing," said Kingsley.

"Tom is 23," said Leslie Young." He rode in England and Ireland when he was really young. He only really got into riding after Auburn. I had wanted him to go to vet school."

"He's been galloping for me for a year," said Young. "He's excited about this trip. He'll stay over in Ireland for three weeks to a month with one of the trainers over there, we haven't decided which one yet. Hopefully this fall he'll start working with a couple of horses and go in novice rider races at point-to-points next spring."

Eliza Edwards (Photo by Tod Marks)Eliza Edwards is the daughter of Toby Edwards of Camden,S.C., the executive director of the Carolina Cup Association and a former jockey and trainer who now helps manage the training center and race course.

"Eliza's been working for Leslie Young for a year, which is why they have her listed with a West Groveaddress," said Edwards. "She's 19 and will be 20 in a couple of weeks. "She's ridden in a few pony races, and she rode in a sanctioned race at Charleston. She's very excited about this trip, and she'slooking forward to seeing racing in another country."

"I'm going to fly over to England when her trip isover, and she'll join me there," said Edwards. "We'll visit a few yards there, and she'll ride out with some of my ex-compadres."

Former TGSF Chairman Sam Slater and wife Lornie Forbes are the masterminds behind the trip, which is based out of Slater's family Cahervillahow estate in the Golden Vale region of County Tipperary.

“The intention of this trip was to introduce young amateur American jockeys to how other parts of the world train flat and jump race horses," said Slater. "We want these up and coming riders to have a chance to make connections with Irish trainers that they normally would otherwise not come in contact with. A few of the past attendees have gone to work in Ireland after their experience on the trip.”

The trip will be led by NSA licensed trainer Regina Welsh, the founder and director of U.S. Pony Racing, who has also led the four previous TGSF trips for developing riders to Ireland.

Along with Slater and Forbes, Welsh will see to it that the riders meet, ride, and work for top Irish trainers.

Previous years they have galloped for Gordon Elliot, Willie Mullins, Enda Bolger, Pat Doyle, and Jessie Harrington.

The group hopes to tour top racing businesses and venues like The Curragh, Coolmore Stud, RACE School, and Ballydoyle, as well as take in the first day of the Galway Festival.

The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation promotes the betterment of American steeplechase racing, and supports amateur and young rider programs to help ensure the future of the sport.

For more information visit www.tgsteeplechasefoundation.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..