Jockey News

There is just one jumps meeting again today, at Warwick and the stable does not have any runners.  There are three meetings on the flat at Beverley, Lingfield and Southwell while in Ireland we have day three of the Listowel Festival which is another all flat card.  

We all know jockeys are made of strong stuff t I was reading about young jockey Charlie Maggs on the Racing Post.  The 19 year old is a twin and both brothers work for Donald McCain and are doing very well in the saddle.  Charlie, had a nasty accident at home only last month and after riding a winner on the flat yesterday at Chester for his boss, he was not smiling too much as he is missing his two front teeth!  Apparently it was caused in a schooling accident at home when he was teaching a young horse to jump ad the horses head cam up and hit him straight in the face, knocking out his two front teeth.  While he was due to be riding at Newmarket later that day it happened, he could not take up the ride as he had to get some stitches and he missed out on a winner.  He was back riding two days later however and has ridden a few winners on the flat this summer although he aims to stick to the jumps for a while now.  He is waiting to have teeth implants but is finding it hard to fit in an appointment around his riding commitments!

Keeping on the jockey theme, there was another jockey nearly in hot water again for failing to ride out his horse to the line when in a winning position.  Only a few days ago, flat jockey Paddy Bradley stopped riding his horse and nearly threw the race away with a rival. that he did not know was there, nearly snatching victory.  The same again happened at Fontwell yesterday, with Freddie Gordon looking over one shoulder on the run in when in the lead, seeing no danger and easing up when there was a horse gaining on him on the other side!  Luckily enough for him, when he realised the rival was there and he asked his horse for a bit more effort, his gelding responded and they were just called the winner after quite a lengthy photo finish.  Both jockeys conducted themselves very well in interviews with Matt Chapman on the TV after the races.  Sorry is a very important word and goes a long way to fixing anything!  Nobody wants to make mistakes but we are all human and by holding your hands up and apologising and 'owning' thee mistake, there is not much anyone can do.  Both of these jockeys were lucky as it did not cost them the race which means they did not receive long bans but there will be others that make the same mistake and may not be so lucky.  Going forwards, I am sure these two will have learnt their lessons for some time now!  

Tonight we have some football action with it being the latest round of the League Cup.  Manchester United are already out but there are some Premiership teams in action this evening, including some all Premiership ties.  Wolves play Everton at 7.45pm while Liverpool versus Southampton kicks off at 8pm.

What has hands but can't clap?

Yesterdays answer: A Needle (What has one eye but can't see?)

Have a good day.