An innovative project called Jockey Start moved on to the meeting at Corbridge in Northumberland last weekend.
This article first appeared in the Racing Post on Friday 19th April.
The brainchild of former amateur rider Will Ramsay, Jockey Start has been launched this season in point-to-pointing’s northern area but could expand. Its first steps have seen a pair of veteran horses provide two novice riders with their first taste of racing, with Coole Hall running five times and providing Abi Reid with three placings, while Not The Chablis has carried Jess Jubb twice, taking her into the runner-up spot on their latest start. Coole Hall ran at Corbridge, finishing third to another first time rider, Venetia Thompson on Lucky Lucarno.
Ramsay (pictured above right with Reid and Coole Hall), who hung up his racing saddle last season, says: “With fewer riders than in the past, and fewer people coming through farming, who are going to be the secretaries and volunteers in 20 years’ time? The riders of today are the volunteers of the future.
“We had nine applicants to become part of Jockey Start, and we said to them this is your commitment to ride out, get fit, to pay your jockey costs and to give something back.”
Rose Dobbin provided Coole Hall, while Nick Alexander added Not The Chablis to the scheme, and various altruists and racehorse owners came forward to help with costs.
Numerous licensed trainers are now providing rides for their staff, and at Cotley in Somerset recently David Pipe ran two horses under novice pilots, with Castle Daragh finishing second under Lukke Morris and Moodofthemoment providing a first win for Conal Kavanagh. The pair started at 14/1 and 12/1 respectively and were clearly not from Pipe’s top team.
Jockey Start gives trainers a package to place before owners who might have horses suitable for the project, and commands a commitment from the riders. Ramsay welcomes contact from interested parties via [email protected].
Abi Reid collects a mighty cup for being first Berwickshire rider when second at Friars Haugh
Whittington can inspire Dobbin
News of Rose Dobbin’s decision to quit training is sad for racing and point-to-pointing, the sport which launched her and in which she became a three-time regional champion.
However, if Harry Whittington is a guide, other avenues will open. Whittington handed in his licence almost a year ago, but his multi-faceted, new-look equine business in Lambourn is proving a winner. He has also resumed his association with point-to-pointing and earlier this month ran hitherto unraced mare Miss Ireland in a maiden race at Cotley in Somerset.
She pulled up, but Whittington rolled the dice again at Garthorpe on Saturdaywhen four-year-old Lilies Succes ran in a flat race.
Giving the impression of a man who is loving this phase of his career, Whittington said his breaking and pre-training services have been in demand from former colleagues and added that, while training was financially challenging, his current business model is a success. It includes handling a few pointers, something he did before gaining a licence and which saw him give rides to then amateurs Nico De Boinville, Camilla Henderson, Page Fuller and Rachel King, the ex-pat jockey now winning top-grade races on the Flat down under.
