There are jockeys, and then there are horsemen. There's not always a clear distinction between them.
Horsemen command an excellent seat on a horse, and have a rounded talent when it comes to the thoroughbred, or for that matter any other breed. Their overall ability masks the occasional deficit in ability in one aspect of their riding; perhaps in the finish. One might have described John Francome as a horseman in the early years of his career, when his finish was decidedly weak. However, the ability to put a horse right in the approach to a fence without losing momentum was worth a length or two lost at the finish.
Jockeys on the other hand, have an innate sense of the pace of a race, and what may be required to win - the ultimate objective. A P McCoy was the consummate jockey, although a superb horseman too. Among riders today, Sean Bowen is a jockey first and foremost; Charlie Deutsch more a horseman.
There has rarely been a better piece of horsemanship displayed than in yesterday's Sussex Stayers Hurdle at Fontwell, Britain's only figure-of-eight track. The £75,000 handicap, value enhanced by the campaign of Premier racing that launched on New year's Day at Cheltenham, was more remarkable than many for the recovery of conditional rider Joe Anderson on the Neil Mulholland - trained Transmission after a colossal blunder at the sixth hurdle.
After a mistake which by all rights should have left Anderson nursing wounded pride on the turf, and for which no-one would have blamed him for the unseat, Anderson managed to regain his seat, then proceeded to jump another four hurdles without irons whilst still in contention, before wresting the lead approaching the last and winning by 2 1/4l.
A sizeable crowd showed their appreciation of the acrobatics and heralded Anderson and his mount back to the winner's enclosure, where even his fellow riders were congratulating him for the recovery. If he never rides another winner, he's likely to be the subject of dozens of "What happened next" quiz questions, although sadly not on Question of Sport, where the BBC called time in December after more than 50 years.
Anderson is a scouser with no background in racing, and a graduate of the foundation course at the British Racing School. If this is the calibre of rider they are producing, let's give them more support. And guess what, he's based in Wiltshire at Emma Lavalle's yard in Ogbourne Maizey. I think we can safely say he may command a few more rides from her this season.
The Sussex Stayers Hurdle 2024: remember it well for an example of the finest horsemanship you'll see this year.
There are jockeys, and then there are horsemen. There's not always a clear distinction between them.
Horsemen command an excellent seat on a horse, and have a rounded talent when it comes to the thoroughbred, or for that matter any other breed. Their overall ability masks the occasional deficit in ability in one aspect of their riding; perhaps in the finish. One might have described John Francome as a horseman in the early years of his career, when his finish was decidedly weak. However, the ability to put a horse right in the approach to a fence without losing momentum was worth a length or two lost at the finish.
Jockeys on the other hand, have an innate sense of the pace of a race, and what may be required to win - the ultimate objective. A P McCoy was the consummate jockey, although a superb horseman too. Among riders today, Sean Bowen is a jockey first and foremost; Charlie Deutsch more a horseman.
There has rarely been a better piece of horsemanship displayed than in yesterday's Sussex Stayers Hurdle at Fontwell, Britain's only figure-of-eight track. The £75,000 handicap, value enhanced by the campaign of Premier racing that launched on New year's Day at Cheltenham, was more remarkable than many for the recovery of conditional rider Joe Anderson on the Neil Mulholland - trained Transmission after a colossal blunder at the sixth hurdle.
After a mistake which by all rights should have left Anderson nursing wounded pride on the turf, and for which no-one would have blamed him for the unseat, Anderson managed to regain his seat, then proceeded to jump another four hurdles without irons whilst still in contention, before wresting the lead approaching the last and winning by 2 1/4l.
A sizeable crowd showed their appreciation of the acrobatics and heralded Anderson and his mount back to the winner's enclosure, where even his fellow riders were congratulating him for the recovery. If he never rides another winner, he's likely to be the subject of dozens of "What happened next" quiz questions, although sadly not on Question of Sport, where the BBC called time in December after more than 50 years.
Anderson is a scouser with no background in racing, and a graduate of the foundation course at the British Racing School. If this is the calibre of rider they are producing, let's give them more support. And guess what, he's based in Wiltshire at Emma Lavalle's yard in Ogbourne Maizey. I think we can safely say he may command a few more rides from her this season.
The Sussex Stayers Hurdle 2024: remember it well for an example of the finest horsemanship you'll see this year.
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