On All Saints’ Day, meet Maddie, the angelic 17-year-old mare, which displayed the patience of a saint during my latest riding lesson at the Showgrounds Equestrian Centre in Claremont.
Corey Farrell, Chloe Pearce and Roy McKay rode Maddie to her three victories – one at Junction, two at Carnarvon and, therefore, three at dirt venues – but the bay galloper formerly known as Double Desire is facing the greatest challenge of her life 12 years after her last race.
As a child, it took me just a few weeks to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. As a teenager, it took me just a few months to learn how to drive a car without automatic transmission. But as an adult, it may take me a few years to learn how to ride a thoroughbred without expert supervision. It is fantastic fun, though, and something to which everyone who loves a punt on the horses and weighs under 85 kilograms should give serious consideration.
Every punter can cite a race that triggered them – it has been six years but still my blood pressure spikes when Azkadellia‘s name pops up – but instead of ranting and raving about you could have done so much better than your betting conveyance’s jockey, do this: log out of your favourite social media account(s), search for your nearest riding school and enrol in some beginner riding lessons.
Say yup to the Melbourne Cup but nup to abusing racing participants, particularly jockeys, when bets lose. Riding a galloper at 60 kilometres per hour in close proximity to as many as 23 other human-horse combinations takes much more competence and courage than betting on a race’s result.
I would love you to visit my blog every day for its daily serve of fresh content. But I would love you more if you hired me. I am well-bred, by Racing Post out of WA Turf Club. I am well-rounded, a winner over many courses and distances. And I am well-placed, available to add value to your existing team. Do the form on a racing, wagering and communications thoroughbred at markworwood.com.
