Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

The Work

The Starter is there to ensure that each race begins on time and that the start is as fair as possible, with each horse and rider given the greatest possible opportunity of a fair start. It must be done in a timely and safe manner following relevant procedures.

The starter oversees the team of stalls handlers (typically a team of 12) who lead the horses into the stalls.

Once the Starter is satisfied that all horses and riders are ready, he/she will alert the riders and press a button to open the stalls and start the race. In starting the race the starter also activates the official timing system, which enables the Judge to record the time taken for each horse to complete the race.

Weekends, evening, and holiday hours are usually required, depending on the schedule of the racecourse.

Nearly all Flat races start from Starting Stalls, while Jump/National Hunt Races use an elastic tape, stretched across the course. An even start is less important in Jumping due to the longer race distances involved.

Sometimes the use of stalls is not possible in flat races due to starting equipment failure or insufficient number of stalls handlers for example. In such instances, the starter can decide to use a flag start but must report the reasons for doing so to the racing stewards. During a flag start, the starter signals to the jockeys by raising the flag that the horses should walk forward and starts the race by lowering the flag.

The Starter reports the times each race started to the Clerk of the Scales, and any delays or false start are reported to the Stewards. Any rider refusing to comply with instructions are also reported to the Stewards.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
• Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
• Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
• Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
• Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
• Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
• Report to regulating organisations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
• Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
• Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
• Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Starters must have excellent Horsemanship and knowledge of Equine behaviour so that they can anticipate potential problems.

A starter also needs to have extensive experience of working with Horses and many starters have progressed from Stalls handler or other roles within the Industry, such as Grooms or Exercise riders.

You can find relevant courses, such as horsemanship and equine studies listed on the CARE website (Careers And Racing Education) and you can search for a wider range of courses Accross FET Centres, Post leaving Cert, Apprenticeship, and Higher Education

Training & Development

FET Centre Courses: Animal Care Science, Equine NFQ level 5 Search our FET coursefinder

FET Centre PLC courses: Animal Care Science, Equine studies, Veterinary & Horsemanship NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder 

Higher Education CAO entry: Equine studies & Science, Veterinary & Horsemanship NFQ level 7-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Apprenticeship Pathways: Stud Farm Assistant Manager NFQ level 7 Farrier NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Professional Development 

If you want to progress in your career, you can keep an eye on events, training and careers in the industry through Horse Racing Ireland for example.

You may also like to explore opportunities overseas, with work opportunities in countries like Australia, the UK and USA.

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €40k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Generally, the amount of pay you receive for working is a matter of agreement between you and your employer, these negotiations normally occur when you receive a job offer.  The racing industry have an agreed minimum rate of pay as well as other minimum conditions of employment for Irish stable staff including entitlements to sick pay and stable employee bonus scheme.  The agreement does not prohibit an employer from paying more favourable terms. Further information is available from the Irish Stable Staff Association.

Data Source(s):
Erieri/ Payscale/ Equuip/ HRI. IHRB/ ISSA

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the employment growth over the five-year period was negative for this occupation, employment levels have remained static since 2020. At 37%, the share aged 55 years or older was almost double the national average of 19%.

A relatively high share of persons employed in this occupation were employed part-time. The administrative and support services sector accounted for the largest share of employment for this occupation at almost two-fifths.

Horse Racing Ireland: Social & Economic impacts report 2023

The Irish Breeding and Racing industry supports 30,350 full time equivalent (FTE) staff in total. This includes 9,400 jobs directly related to the industry. Over 40% of these (c.3,950 FTEs) work in breeding operations, closely followed by c.3,000 FTE stable-staff, trainers and point-topoint handlers (c.800), caterers (c.350), jockeys, agents and valets (c.300) and racecourse staff (c.300). A further c.7,000 jobs are attributable to directly related employment. This includes individuals in equine-related roles like veterinarians and farriers, as well as those working in related agricultural, and leisure roles. Total non-betting employment was 24,800 in 2022, up c.8% when compared to the 22,900 supported by the industry in 2016.

Secondary employment is estimated to total c.8,400 and includes roles that are supported by further spending in the Irish economy (the ‘ripple effect’). This supports jobs in the likes of the travel and accommodation sectors and the bar and restaurant trade. Furthermore, the betting sector in Ireland is intrinsically linked to Irish racing, and many fewer individuals would be employed should racing cease to exist.

The sector is estimated to employ c.5,550 FTEs, across individuals working in LBOs and the Head Offices of betting operators.Given that Ireland has a large proportion of its population residing in rural communities, agriculture holds a high level of significance, with the Breeding and Racing industry being a significant  contributor to agricultural employment. It also supports jobs in farriery, horse transport and veterinary/equine health.

Directly related employment relates to those jobs that whilst being heavily reliant on the Breeding and Racing industry, also serve other industry sectors and sub-sectors. These can include equine-related roles such as veterinarians and farriers, as well as roles in agriculture, leisure, and hospitality. This is estimated to total c.7,000 in 2022.

Jobs Board
The www.workinracing.ie website includes a Jobs Board.

• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)

  • Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Horseracing Regulatory Board

  • +353 45 445 600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The Association of Irish Racecourses GLG

  • 63 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2.
  • (01)-6760911
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE)

  • Curragh House, Dublin Road, Kildare
  • +353 (0)45 522 468
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here