PDA

View Full Version : retainer or trainer?? Horse Racing


clayton
25-02-2010, 02:45 PM
I recently read an article, in which Tony McCoy was bemoaning the fact that he has won very little of national hunt's top races - i.e. gold cups, champion hurdles, grand nationals.. We all know what a class jockey he is and the ridiculous amount of winners he has ridden in his life time thus far, but the majority of them coming in smaller meetings during the week and that.

What i want to ask people on here is, if he is bemoaning this fact then why does he not get a job as number jockey to a powerful stable instead of being retained by JP Mc?

I know he gets €1m a year off JP Mc just to ride his horses, but when mick fitzgerald retired apparently he was offered the job at nicky hendersons but turned it down.
Riding for a retainer, you're not going to ride the quality of horse that you would ride if you were number 1 jock for willie mullins, paul nicholls, alan king, nicky henderson, philip hobbs etc. People say he rides for jonjo o'neill, that is only because the vast majority of JP's horses are with him.

I find it fascinating the way a sports man so talented as AP would be quicker to side with money, than national hunts biggest prizes.

Juan
25-02-2010, 03:01 PM
The tighter you squeeze,the less you have.

GDLUCKXABI
25-02-2010, 03:09 PM
Frienship with Mcmanus as well, not just money!

JamesM
25-02-2010, 03:21 PM
He has won some decent prizes in fairness..Chmap Hurdle twice, Champion Chase, Gold Cup, King George and Irish Natl..

So if he has a good relationship with mcmanus and is happy i say why not...

clayton
25-02-2010, 03:26 PM
Frienship with Mcmanus as well, not just money!

didn't mick fitzgerald lose a good friend of his, a trainer (his name escapes me), when he got the last minute ride on 'see more business' in the 1999 gold cup.. he was down to ride some horse for a friend of his in the same race, but was offered the see more business ride at the last minute and took it, then fell out with his mate..... he won on see more business in the end.

fitzy's only ever gold cup win, i doubt he's ever looked back either.

clayton
25-02-2010, 03:35 PM
i was just wondering that's all.
For McCoy it's all about winners, for Ruby Walsh it's all about winning the big races.

JamesM
25-02-2010, 03:39 PM
I do agree, for a man who is the so called best jockey the last 10 years it would be nice to see him winning some more big races..

Rubys record is unbelieveable for the big ones...

clayton
25-02-2010, 03:49 PM
i think Ruby is the best jockey in the world