“You speak well, if your tongue delivers the message of your heart.”

so said legendary American film director, John Ford.

Although the SLTC Apprentice School’s main focus is on producing quality riders – the rounded education and development of each student is vitally important.

In this era of highlighted communication and social media exposure in daily life – in horse racing, there is a thirst for information and on hearing the ‘inside story’ from racing participants.

It was with this in mind that the School organised for the Club’s Race Commentator, Mark Lydeamore to conduct a session on “Media Training”, last week.

The setting was a ‘studio’ created in the Apprentice School classroom, where video replays of jockeys throughout the world being interviewed were played and discussed. Mark explained what makes a good interview and offered tips on interview techniques. The different forms of raceday interviews were dissected and demonstrated – before each student took turn being ‘interviewed’ in a variety of scenarios by Mark and raceday presenter, Madeline Tan.

After the ‘studio’ session, the interactive training shifted to the paddock and scales areas, where post-race interviews and comments were practices.

To round out the Media Training session, several apprentices were called upon to deliver a speech thanking the CCTV, M&E and Marketing Department of SLTC for their assistance in ensuring the success of the morning’s forum.

The entire two hour program was filmed by the CCTV Department for later review and revision.

The students then made a presentation to Mark Lydeamore and Madeline Tan, as well acknowledged the attendance and support of SLTC Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham Hak Lim & Puan Sri Louise Cham  and presented a memento from the School to Chief Executive Officer of Totalisator Board of Malaysia, Puan Nor Hashimah.