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Galloping Ahead: The American Jockey Invasion The influence of the American riding style from Willie Simms

23rd August 2018 by Wray Vamplew

In 1895 a solitary American jockey, the African American Willie Simms, rode in British racing. His unusual riding style—virtually crouching along the horse’s neck with short stirrups, high knees, and a tight rein—was in contrast to that of the English jockeys who sat more erect with a comparatively straight knee and a good length of […]

There is no such person as a fat jockey If riders cannot do the weight then they do not have a job

14th August 2018 by Wray Vamplew

The result of the 1886 Cambridgeshire horse race shows that St Mirin was beaten a neck by Sailor Prince and that the losing horse carried a pound overweight. Jockey, Fred Archer, rider of second-placed St Mirin, blamed himself for the defeat as he had been unable to rid himself of that excess pound. While riding […]

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