THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Month: February 2018

Serena Brotherton sets sail to ride in Peru!

22-02-2018

A huge thank you to our friends at the Jockey Club of Peru Jochi Meza and Sara Torres for so kindly offering the chance of a lifetime for us to send an amateur jockey to ride at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima, Peru this coming weekend!  This is the first time ever that a British amateur jockey has ridden there.

With a very light riding weight of 56 kg required, multiple flat lady champion Serena Brotherton is delighted to be flying out this week to enjoy this unique experience. Thanks to our kind hosts, Serena looks forward to 2 rides on Saturday, one over 1500 metres on dirt and the other over a mile on turf.

Loads of good luck and safe travels to Serena flying the flag for the AJA🇬🇧 on her South American adventure! 🍀✈️🏇💨

Watch live here!! Saturday night 2nd race TEFO 7:25 pm & 7th race THUNDERING SAINT  9:30 pm

http://www.hipodromodemonterrico.com.pe/pedigree/sistemas/arbol/inscripciones.php

Mark Galligan wins HRH Prince of Wales Chase at Ludlow

21-02-2018

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Ludlow Race Course has got to be the favourite UK racecourse of Mark Galligan who followed up his January 1st career winner there with the 2nd win of his career today on Goohar in The Prince of Wales Challenge Trophy Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
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This valuable 3 mile chase produced a thrilling photo finish from 6 runners with Mark and Goohar bravely staying on to deny Lorcan Williams and Captain Buck’s by a neck.
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Ludlow welcomed BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust who kindly assisted with the winning presentations.
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Many congratulations to winning connections on a memorable day with this being the first leg of a double for local trainer Henry Daly 🏆🏆🎉👏
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Picture credits: AJA

What a Guy! Disney repeats Royal Artillery Gold Cup victory!

17-02-2018

Captain Guy Disney enjoyed another fairytale at Sandown yesterday when partnering last year’s victorious Rathlin Rose in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup to repeat an emotional victory.

Producing his horse with perfect timing, Guy patiently waited until the last before urging the 10-year-old up the hill to win comfortably.

Following his win, Guy said “I think when you’re on a horse like this who jumps, travels and has been round the course and distance, it’s lovely.  Look at his run in the Welsh National – he’s very good.  It’s very nice to ride a horse like that.  I saw Roddi Greene in the week – I’ve had a few bad falls this year – and I was just trying to calm things down a little bit. There’s more time than you think and you don’t have to rush.

“You can’t bottle the feeling of winning this race – I didn’t want to rest on my laurels from last year – and I’m chuffed for David [Pipe] and Fergus Wilson.

Regarding the connections between horse and servicemen, Disney added: “I think if you look back, there used to be such a connection between the horses and military. It’s not a real job for us – the majority of riders have been in Iraq, Afghanistan or Bosnia – and it’s great that the big trainers run horses in this race. It’s a real priviledge to take part.”

Huge congratulations to Guy on making history by recording the first back-to-back win of this wonderful race.

Drama at Chelmsford as Stewards demote winner in photo finish

16-02-2018

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A dramatic finish to the opener at Chelmsford last night saw a photo finish between Antonia Peck aboard Laura Mongan’s TED’S BROTHER a nose in front of Harriet Lees on Kevin Ryan’s TAGUR with Simon Walker squeezed for room in third.  The result was the subject of a steward’s enquiry with the stewards subsequently and contraversially  reversing the first two placings which was questioned by Matt Chapman covering the meeting on At the Races.  It remains to be seen if an appeal will be lodged.

Tagur had been up with the pace all of the way but just lost out at the line.  It was the stewards’ opinion that Ted’s Brother had hampered Paddy A who in turn bumped Tagur.  However, on the head on it appeared Tagur had edged right helping to squeeze out Simon Walker on the favourite Paddy A.

Congratulations to Harriet Lees on her second win in 5 days.

Zac Baker stays ahead in the gentlemen’s jump tables

15-02-2018

Congratulations to leading amateur Zac Baker on a patient ride aboard Godfrey Maundrell’s mare Tambura in very testing conditions at Towcester on Valentine’s Day to record their 6th career win together in the mares’ hurdle.

Looking outpaced having been in touch in the early stages of the race, the mare renewed her efforts as they turned for home up the Towcester hill and galloped relentlessly to wear down her rivals and lead after jumping the last.

Many congratulations to winning connections.

Amateur jockey name details in racecards

08-02-2018

The AJA have always included all amateur jockeys’ Christian names when publishing tables to make all amateur jockeys more “user-friendly” to the racing public and to help raise all amateurs’ profiles.

After much discussion it has at last been agreed with the BHA that this can apply to all amateur jockeys when names appear in the press and on racecards but this is subject to each individual amateur jockey’s wishes.

From 1st March 2018 all amateur jockeys’ names will be made up of a title, forename (in full) and surname as opposed to the current system whereby most jockeys are known only by title, initial and surname.  If you would prefer a different style from this, please respond via e-mail to ghodsden@weatherbys.co.uk by no later than Monday 12th February.

If you are happy with the proposed new racing style, you do not need to do anything and you will be notified when the changes have been made.