High school students are gearing up to ‘take the reins’ as managers at a popular racecourse.

Patcham High School pupils will head to Brighton Racecourse on Tuesday, June 30, to find out just how tough the going gets behind the scenes at the city’s leading sporting venue.

Youngsters Gregor Shaw and Callum Collins, both aged 15, and Jacob Roberts and Ellis Markwick, both aged 14, will shadow the racecourse’s management teams during an action-packed day of racing.

The lads will visit the weighing room, meet the clerk of the scales and groundstaff, learn about event organisation and marketing and gain useful tips on other crucial aspects of running a racecourse.

When the hard work is over and the punters have gone home, the budding young managers will write up their experiences and let the racecourse teams know their thoughts and any revolutionary ideas.

Student Jacob Roberts said: “We’re all really excited about this chance to find out more about the racecourse and are especially eager to get behind the scenes. All of us are keen sports enthusiasts and horseracing is something we’re really motivated to learn more about.

“We’ve never had the opportunity to really experience what it might be like to be a manager at a busy and high profile venue and I’m confident we’ll learn a lot”.

George Hill, marketing manager at Brighton Racecourse, added: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming the Patcham High School students for what’s going to be a super introduction to a day in the life of the course. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come round very often and our young guests will experience some of the many and varied facets of managing a racecourse."

For more information on Brighton Racecourse and upcoming fixtures, visit www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk