08 May 2008 Pilots in Profile - Luke Morgan
Luke Morgan: has no regrets, a penchant for Johnny Cash, Sienna Miller, and the Piste
In terms of the most travelled rider this season, Luke Morgan must be pretty close to the top of the list. One weekend you will find him riding around Maisemore Park or Siddington, and the next he is heading back to his homeland to ride round Alnwick and Friars Haugh.
AGE 30.
MARITAL STATUS Single.
PROFESSION Estate Agent.
ARE YOU FROM A RACING BACKGROUND? Yes, to the extent that Dad rode in Point-to-Points. We were brought up on a farm with ponies and hunters and as a teenager used to ride out for Peter Beaumont and Len Lungo.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RIDING? Through hunting and the pony club at a very early age. My brother and sister both rode which got the competitive edge up and running!
FIRST RIDE - WHEN, FOR WHOM, HORSE, COURSE, FATE? I think it was at the Morpeth in Northumberland about 12 years ago on a horse called Minstrel owned by my parents. It was bought as a school master but did the exact opposite as it fell. It fell again and refused once as well that season so it must have had something wrong with it!
WHO ARE THE MAIN TRAINERS THAT YOU RIDE FOR? Gary Hanmer and Emma Baker in the South, Gillian Kerr, David Parker and Gavin Hamilton in the North.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED/LIVE? I live a couple of days a week in London and the rest of the time in the Cotswolds.
WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Audi A4.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT NIGHT IN & PERFECT NIGHT OUT Perfect night out would be drinks after work before heading off to a restaurant and on to a night club to sober up with some exercise. Night in - long bath followed by watching classic film with the odd whiskey.
IF YOU WERE SUSPENDED - WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOURSELF? Easy, go skiing. Unlike race riding it never disappoints!
WHO WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT TRAVELLING COMPANIONS TO THE RACES? Sienna Miller. Failing that my brother Ran.
WHAT CD'S ARE YOU PLAYING IN YOUR CAR AT PRESENT? The Enemy, Johnny Cash and a dance compilation album that I don't know the name of.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST HEROES - IN AND OUT OF RACING? Richard Dunwoody from an early age in racing; Dalai Lama outside of racing.
WHAT TURNS YOU ON/OFF - IN RACING & LIFE IN GENERAL? Political correctness and constant complainers who have a "half empty" attitude. Stewards who fine you for riding/whip use with no evidence.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST INCIDENT AT THE RACES? A mate of mine, Pete Strang Steel, once rode a spare of mine at Hexham, a tiny mare that pulled hard. He was at least 20 lengths clear when a bunch of bullocks in the centre of the course jumped onto the course and started charging towards him! Didn't put the horse off which continued flat out towards an open ditch. It looked very amusing from afar!
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN RACING - WHAT WOULD IT BE? Keep any horse rated more than 125 out of hunter chases.
IF YOU HADN'T TAKEN UP RIDING - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? Worked harder and gone skiing more often!
WHAT IS THE DAFTEST THING A FELLOW RIDER, AN OWNER, OR TRAINER, HAS EVER SAID TO YOU? "Drop it in 20 lengths last, stretch them on the second circuit and don't get there too soon" - sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous!
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS IN YOUR RIDING CAREER? No regrets.
NEXT WEEK: NICK PEARCE