Jockey’s Holiday

The 2022/2023 jumps season went out in a blaze of glory on Saturday, as Sandown Park played host to the seasons concluding meeting. That stalwart of northern racing and now three time champion jockey Brian Hughes once again lifted the riders title, whilst champion trainer Paul Nicholls narrowly bettered his 2007/2008 prize money haul by £74, amassing a tidy £3,646,585. Equine stars were also on display, with Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon claiming the fourth top level success of his career and the charismatic Hewick producing another fine performance for his equally charismatic trainer, Shark Hanlon. The seven race card provided a fitting end to arguably my favourite season ever as a National Hunt follower, with my personal connection to Corach Rambler ensuring this years wet and weary spring is unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry.

Fast forward 48 hours from the Sandown swan-song and my habitual afternoon flick between At The Races and Racing TV yielded a decent flat card from the Curragh, well attended bank holiday meets at Beverley, Windsor and Bath, and shockingly two jumps meeting’s from Warwick and Kempton. Now I’m far from a racing expert and would certainly never profess to know exactly what it takes to forge a career as a jumps jockey, but due to my profession I am aware of the trials and tribulations which come hand in hand with being a professional sports person. I can’t speak for all footballer’s but I do know that come mid May I’m always ready for a well earned rest. After ten or eleven months of almost daily physical and mental exertion, both body and mind need time to recharge. Some lads might go on a two week bender, others spend time brushing up on their wedge play, I prefer an escape to sunnier climes. Usually somewhere on the Med, with a book in hand, fresh seafood on the table and history close to hand.

The downtime of a professional footballer will vary from anywhere between four to six weeks, with three or four of these dedicated to preparing the body for the return to pre season, but today’s official start of the 2023/2024 National Hunt season ( two days after its predecessors end ) had me questioning, when do the jockey’s get their holiday? Surely after a year of broken bones, arduous car journey’s and early morning’s on the gallops some form of R&R is required. A fully rejuvenated jockey would offer much better value to trainers, owners and punters alike, being sharper, better motivated and ultimately more effective in the saddle. Why not have a complete four week shut down and allow jockey’s to get some sun and trainers to plan for the upcoming season. Prize money could be carried over to support and enhance the very best of summer jumping, with the picturesque Perth and ultra competitive Market Rasen already flying the flag in that regard. Or why not have a summer festival like our good friends over the water? Imagine a five day bonanza at Cartmel, with no other jumps meeting to overlap. Racing tourists from the four corners of Britain and Ireland would surely flock to this idyllic corner of Northern England, taking in the splendour of The Lake District along the way. The big boys of the South could come and try their luck with a locally trained hotpot, and it would be a welcome change of scenery for the jockey’s, who when the season hits full swing can expect to be at Ayr the one day and Plumpton the next.

Now it could quite reasonably be said that jockey’s are free to take a holiday whenever they want, but it’s seldom as easy as that. Aside from the riders retained by big owners or those affiliated to top yards, many of the lads and lassies work tirelessly to build up relationships with certain horses and trainers. The fear of missing out on a winner for one of these connections means riders will often drive to the other end of the country for one mount. A missed ride whether through injury or vacation gives a peer and rival the chance to step into your shoes, possibly forever. This constant mental battle coupled with the more obvious physical perils, makes the life of a jump jockey unquestionably hard, and when you throw in the fact that prize money is often paltry at best, it becomes almost insane. These brave men and women have more often than not been brought up within the sport, learning the ropes from elder siblings, parents and grandparents. Being a jockey is not only their profession but a lifestyle, a vocation, and a passion, and it is this.. that we must never take for granted.