The Corinthian Challenge offers its participants the chance of a lifetime, the opportunity that most of us, unless you are a professional jockey, never get to experience, to ride at three of Ireland’s best tracks.

The series is open to amateur riders, most of the entrants come from equestrian backgrounds in some way or another, either for leisure or professionally, but the career paths vary, for instance, this year, one of the 14 participants is a company director, another is an insurance broker, and one is Garda, though they all share a passion for racing, are up for a challenge and are willing to fund raise 10,000 Euro (for charity)!

This year Bluegrass’ very own Craig Kileff is taking part. When not driving around the country giving advice to customers on the benefits of great nutritional Bluegrass Feeds, he has, in the past, represented his adopted Emerald Isle in Polocrosse (he had been trying to convince me to give it a go but it looks to scary), he also spends most early mornings riding out for local trainers the Crawford Brothers.

Sunday the 17^th of July saw the first race of the series at the Curragh, the race was won by Jane Davis, marketing manger for “another” feed company, who knew there was such a thing? Craig came in a very good 8^th place, when I spoke to him at 6.30am this morning he was off to the gym to get fitter for the next race!

One race down and two to go…

As I’ve said, it’s all for charity, and a great cause too, the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. If you would like to help Craig, the challenge, but most of all a very worthy charity, please donate if you can.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Craig-Kileff

Thank you.

For news and updates, follow @CorinthianChall on Twitter and Facebook.