Kaiya Fraser’s Story

Riding winners is something our graduates do on a regular basis. We have ex-trainees race riding all over the world, both flat and jumps, and every winner is an achievement. However, every now and then a young person comes through our gates with a plan to turn a dream into a reality…

Kaiya Fraser is one of those. He came to The British Racing School on our Foundation Course with his only previous experience of horses, not even riding, being a 1-month volunteering role at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, the inner city riding school where Khadijah Mellah learned to ride. His BRS Workplace Instructor, Jackie Hodge, says:

Kaiya was a very serious and shy trainee when we first met; always hiding under his hoodie because he felt uncomfortable and was not confident when being assessed. I hoped that eventually he would come out of his shell. That day came in August 2021 at Great Yarmouth races. I had gone to observe and take videos to support Kaiya’s apprenticeship portfolio. Kaiya led up a winner and his yard followed up with a second win, a horse that Kaiya rode on a daily basis. That day will always stay with me - it was Kaiya’s birthday and the first day I saw him properly smile whilst I was working with him. The memory still brings a tear!”

Kaiya successfully gained an apprenticeship at Chris Wall Racing after graduating from the School and completed his Level 2 Diploma. Chris Wall said about Kaiya:

“When I first met Kaiya Fraser he was a shy, quiet person but it was clear that he had a genuine love of horses and that he was determined to make a go of it in racing. Once he had joined us it was obvious that he had a natural affinity with the horses.

His quiet demeanour was a big help around fractious thoroughbreds both in and out of the stable. He was always a confident rider, confident in his own ability and always challenging himself to ride more difficult horses. He was a good listener, taking in all the advice given to him by other, more experienced, members of staff or from myself and his laid back nature was ideal for settling strong horses. In addition to being able to settle horses it soon became obvious that they in turn responded well to his urgings once he was riding in gallops. So, we sent him on a work riding course followed by his apprentice licence course.

His first ride took him by surprise but he quickly learned what it was all about and on his second ride cajoled the same horse to win at Leicester. Since then, his riding has improved in leaps and bounds, he has ridden more winners and all of my owners are keen for him to ride if I deem it appropriate.

Kaiya has gone from being a quiet, slightly introspective lad to a confident more outgoing person. Considering he had very little experience of riding before attending the British Racing School he has come a very long way in a short time. He is a credit to himself, his family and the Racing School.”

Having grown up in Hackney with no direct contacts in the sport, Kaiya has worked hard to realise his ambition of becoming a jockey, but in doing so he will also become a role model for other young people. He is proof of the message and ethos of the School, that it doesn’t matter about your background – if you want to work in horseracing and are willing to try, we can help make it happen. Kaiya says:

“Having lived in London, I arrived at the BRS having never sat on a horse. I was somewhat apprehensive but was determined and willing to learn. I kept my head down, took in what I was told and just got on with the job. I also feel the BRS helped me grow in confidence and maturity as an individual. After my 14 weeks at the School I started work with Newmarket trainer, Chris Wall. My riding improved further and Mr Wall had the faith in me to give me a few rides; to date I’ve ridden 11 winners from around 60 rides - an acceptable strike rate. When Mr Wall retired at the end of the 2022 season, I transferred to the yard of Harry Eustace. I’m enjoying it here and my aim is to ride some winners for this up-andcoming stable and hopefully start to pick up a few rides from other yards.”