WHEN I was riding in America I heard a story about a stand-off between US jockey Tommy Skiffington, the owner of a horse he was riding and the horse’s trainer.
The owner had given the jockey instructions to bounce out from the start and take up the running with two furlongs to go, not winning by too great a distance. The owner had a different plan, wanting the jockey to delay the jump and hold back the horse.
The jockey followed the trainer’s instructions and the horse won. But after the race the owner stormed down to the Winner’s Enclosure and read the trainer the riot act. He must have been concerned about the manner of victory from a handicapping perspective, but the trainer didn’t give him any change.
He told him if there was a problem with the ride, then he should go into the Weigh Room and take it up with the jockey, which he did.
Anyway, the next day the owner turned up at the yard and removed about 15 horses, only because the trainer stood by the jockey. It would be tough to imagine the same scenario playing out now.
The fluid nature of being a professional jockey leaves riders floating between different yards, and often owners play a big part in what horses they will ride.
Sam Twiston Davies is the main man at Paul Nicholl’s yard now, but he will ride for other yards on occasion and when the profession demands it.
Similarly, on the Flat, Michael Barzalona is across yards having been prominent for Godolphin in recent years. I just don’t believe the fluid nature of all the chopping and changing is good for the sport because, ultimately, the jockey can become answerable more to the owner than the trainer.
The economic situation that has impacted on yards means that trainer-jockey loyalty is tested by the threat of an upset owner — one that might decide to remove their horses from a yard on a whim.
Keeping with the theme, my own week was a hop scotch of rides but I did pick up my second winner of the season — Echo Springs for John Quinn in Aintree.
This weekend it’s Cartmel and I’d recommend anyone who hasn’t been there to make the trip. But leave in plenty of time.
This week's selections
£5 win Silent Cliché, 7.25 Cartmel, Saturday
