C. THE START
Any nerves disappear when you are going down to the start.
Getting on the horse is when you get rid of people, and you're with your partner who doesn't talk.
It's a one-way conversation in the sense you are listening to him through feeling, watching what he's doing and trying to keep him as calm as possible.
Most of the jockeys will be deep in thought, worrying about their animals and thinking about what they are going to do.
You have got to keep your horse relaxed so you go into the stalls as quietly as possible.
If you can, you'll get off his back and perch on the side of the stalls. But it's not always possible to do all these things.
Stalls 10 and 13 seem to be lucky ones. I know I didn't want to be drawn low in the Derby.
You jump off, and they all go to the right, and then you start the climb straight away.
Home~RS~a~RS~Domestic~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~46~RS~){kind=small}
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
360° Panorama