Racing consistently throws up debates on a wide variety of topics, many of which have only a passing interest for me – not because I don’t have an opinion, or take an interest, but mainly due to the constraints of time.
It is easy to have an ‘off-the-cuff’ sound bite these days for every subject from the weather, the results of Manchester United and the latest contestant on X-Factor or Strictly, but when it comes to talking about the difference a jockey makes to a horse, then I think I am in a strong position to judge and have a valid viewpoint.
In the last 18 months or so, I have used over 70 different riders in races on the flat and over jumps, but I would honestly say that only a small percentage of that number have made a significant difference to the outcome of a race. However, racing is not always about the short-term and many of the jockeys I use on a regular basis are employed because they come in to the yard to ride out and make a point of getting to know the horses and they take the trouble to listen and understand riding instructions. Horses are long-term projects and a poor ride from a jockey can set back a horse by weeks or months.
Statistics can be used to prove, or disprove, a multitude of theories and suppositions, but in the case of AP McCoy and Richard Johnson, they are irrefutable. These are two of the greatest National Hunt jockeys, not only in my lifetime, but of all-time.
The racing public see the end result every day – the winners, the adulation, the plaudits and the lifting of trophies with connections.
However, it is often the unseen that makes a difference – the hours spent driving in the early mornings to drive to different yards to school horses.
This is what makes a difference on the racecourse – and it’s not only knowledge garnered from riding over fences or hurdles on the gallops, it is time spent talking to the lads and lasses who work in the yard, gleaning bits of information that form part of the jigsaw of knowledge.
Click here to see Dicky schooling earlier this morning
The overall results clearly demonstrate that when the whole package is taken into account, the likes of AP and Dicky make a significant difference.
This season, to date, I’ve used Dicky eight times, and he’s ridden four winners. Last season, I employed AP on eleven occasions and he came back with five winners. Small samples,.yes, but a return of nine winners from 19 rides is good enough for me!