The sixth intake of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s (TBA) national traineeship program, Fast Track, has graduated with a gala ceremony in Scone.
Fourteen students received their Certificate III in Horse Breeding after completing the 12-month program, with the trainees carrying out placements on farms across New South Wales, Victoria and for the first time, Tasmania. More than 80 people attended the graduation event at Scone Race Club on Tuesday night.
All the students in this year’s class are set to remain in the thoroughbred industry after graduation.
“We are very proud of the trainees who have all worked really hard to complete their studies and successfully carry out their work commitments on farm,” said Madison Tims, TBA’s education and projects manager.
“This program has created a pathway for anyone, no matter their horse experience or whether they’ve been exposed to the thoroughbred industry, to learn about breeding and get a job on a respected farm.”
Over 90% of graduates from the program remain in the thoroughbred industry for at least 12 months.
Also attending the ceremony were the 20 trainees who make up the 2024 Fast Track intake, the largest class in the program’s history.
TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said: “The graduation was a great night with so many people from the industry coming to celebrate with our trainees and their families. Fast Track has proved to be an incredibly valuable pathway for young people to get a start in our industry.”
