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Letter of the Week

Excuses, excuses

Being a part-owner of horses I see the dedication of the horse trainers and their staff. The 3am starts in the pitch black, the frequently cold and wet weather, the very long days, in addition to all the paperwork that is required. This is a daily task for the 365 days of the year.
At the races I listen to the trainer’s pre-race instructions to the jockey and am astounded by the inability of jockeys to follow them. I can accept this if due to circumstances it is physically impossible to do as instructed, if the jockey is an apprentice, or if a country jockey is riding in a metropolitan race.
I see the frustration of the trainer when the horse returns to scale and the excuses are offered.
In our horse’s last campaign there were four races where the horse would have won but for bad riding, and the jockeys failing to ride to instructions. I am not talking through my pocket as I do not bet.
The senior jockey’s instruction for our latest ride was: “The horse is coming off a four-week break and you’ve ridden it in a city trial so know the horse. Have it positioned off the pace and swoop for a last run to the finish.”
What did we get? The horse was ridden out of the stalls, took the lead, led for (almost) the full distance of the race, had exceptional sectional times and got beaten on the post by a head.
 The disappointment of the trainer was heartbreaking. All that work from the stable and the horse, and no reasonable excuse from the jockey.

Sympathiser
Melbourne
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March