Talking Horses with Young Jockey Alfie Warwick

Talking Horses with Alfie Warwick

Now with a bit of a lull in racing between now and Boxing Day I thought I would try something different for the blog and actually move the focus away from race previews, reviews and betting thoughts. This week I'm delighted to say I managed to get talking to young flat jockey Alfie Warwick and Alfie has been kind enough to lend me some of his time to answer a few questions I put to him. With the recent retirement of Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania proving just how hard a life it is for jockeys to make a living out of the sport we love I thought it would be fascinating to get an interview with a young jockey looking to make his way in the game. So without further ado lets get into the questions and answer session that I conducted with Alfie.

Alfie with his first ever race ride in Dear Maurice

'So Alfie you got into racing relatively late on in the day didn't you? Had you always been a racing fan or was this just by chance? Tell us a bit about how you caught the racing bug and acted on your passion so we can get to know you a bit more...'

I got into racing at 16 which is typically late yes and fell into it completely by chance. I was approached at a careers fair in Birmingham whilst I was a student at Huntingdon regional college by a representative of the British racing school as I was the right build for a jockey. From there I was intrigued and signed up for a 9 week residential course in Newmarket and then moved to lambourn in Berkshire to complete my baseline training. This was for a trainer called Stanley Moore and since then haven’t looked back its fair to say I caught the bug quickly!

Wow, definitely a good careers fair for you then! And you've been solely riding on the flat thus far, however at 5 foot 8 you might be a bit taller than your average flat jockey, any plans to ever give it a go over the jumps or are you a flat boy for life?

I love all aspects of racing and keenly follow both codes. But when I got into racing I was the right weight for a flat jockey and therefore started work for a flat racing yard. Although It is hard work I manage to maintain a riding weight that is suitable for flat racing but the realistic truth of it is that I will end up riding over jumps because of my weight. However currently I am enjoying riding on the flat and whilst I am still able too I will continue but I have started preparing myself for my future over the jumps.

Well you got your first winner on the all weather at a huge price (33/1 for readers out there). Tell us a bit about the ride and what it felt like to cross the winning line in front...

Well this is my favorite question to answer by far! It was an amazing feeling! I spent the whole race in front and my plan before the race was to do so, so it all fell right for me! Coming up the straight in front with every other jockey off the bridle I would be lying if I said I wasn’t very nervous and in some ways bricking it as it was only my 4^th ride. The horse went on to be sold for 150 grand after the race so the owner and trainer were both very pleased but it was a kick in the teeth for me as I never got to ride him again but still follow his life closely as he made my dream come true that night at Wolverhampton!

Alfie aboard Orange Grove, a 33/1 winner!

Amazing, huge congratulations to you on becoming a winning jockey! You've had 7 rides so far this season, with the recent retirement of Ryan Mania, who had won the Grand National over jumps but was finding life as a jockey tough just how hard is it to get yourself ride on horses and make the job pay?

First of all I want to wish Ryan the best of whatever he decides to do from now on as he made the hardest decision a jockey can make. But it is very hard for any jockey as there are so many of us in such a small profession it is hard to get the rides. But you just have to ride every horse to the best of your ability, know your form and report back from the race in as much detail as you can to keep the trainer happy. To make it pay you just have to keep working and grinding away but there is a saying in the weighing room that any jockey who is in it for the money won’t get far. We do it for the love and the feeling you get when you’re up there on the back of a horse

So who do you get most of your rides for and who are you riding out for?

I am currently apprentice to Andrew Reid so he supplies most of my rides and I ride out for him most mornings. But any chance I get I go riding out for other trainers, most recently John Ryan, but I have been lucky enough to go into a few great trainers like David Simcock and Hugo Palmer.

Tell us a bit about your average day and also, given the festive excesses consumed by us armchair jockeys at this time of the year, a bit about your daily diet...

My day starts at 5 30 am when I get up and take a small jog to start my metabolism. I then have cup of green tea and start riding out, typically 4 or 5 horses a day. I then ether go racing or watch the days racing before returning in the evening to feed and check up on the horses I have ridden in the morning (as long as I’m not racing).

A typical day will involve a fair bit of this!

Will you be allowed a Christmas dinner or will that depend on your Boxing Day activities?

It would usually depend on my boxing day rides but this year it will be no Christmas dinner no matter what I am doing boxing day as I am on a strict diet plan that I have been given by my dietician.

As you do all your riding on the flat, and mainly on the all weather tracks, which is your favorite and which is the hardest to ride around?

My favourite track to ride is Kempton as I enjoy the false rail there and have had a lot of fun nipping up the inside there. The hardest all weather track to ride is Southwell as the ground there is very testing and you need to keep the horse plugging on up the straight when they are usually on their last legs!

Is there a big difference between riding on the all weather and riding on the turf? 

A huge difference! The turf is a whole different ball game as you have to think about the best ground, undulations and the best going for your horse. Also it is vital you keep your horse balanced on the turf as any bump could have you off where as the all weather tracks are a lot flatter.

Shows what a useless jockey I'd make! And do you have any goals for yourself as a jockey in the year 2015?

In 2015 I hope to ride as many winners as I can which every jockey does! But really I just hope to stay fit and still loving what I do!

Who is your favorite jockey, one on the flat and one jumps please!

My favourite flat jockey is Adam Kirby as I think he is unbelievably strong and a great horseman. It’s a shame about his weight because if he was lighter I think you would see him riding even more winners than he already does! Over the jumps I love watching a good friend of mine Brendan Powell JNR ride and I think if he keeps going the way he is he will be Champion jockey one day.

You are preaching to the converted here, I love Brendan Powell JNR and think he is destined for the very top of the jumps game. Right...you are offered the ride on ANY horse currently racing; who do you take it on?

A hard question this one as there are so many nice horses out there at the minute. But two spring to mind and not obvious ones. One horse for David O’meara called Watchable that I almost rode in his first race that has now gone on to run in the Ayr gold cup and win a nice handicap at Ascot. I really think he will be one to watch for the turf next year. Also a horse that has just been sold to the states called Anipa who won the Cheshire Oaks for Roger Varian. I loved her running style and will be following her as she attempts to win grade 1’s in America.

Have you ever been late to ride out and got a real rollicking or are you a punctual jockey?

Every jockey has received a fair few rollickings I can tell you that much! Its part of the game and its how you pick yourself up afterwards that people want to see its no good arguing in this game you just have to bite your lip and do better next time.

Classic question but have you any horses we should be keeping our eyes out for over either the Festive season or the season ahead as a whole?

Like I said I think watchable is one to watch for the turf. But over the festive period I would look out for any Goldophin runners as they have a good batch for the all weather this year and are doing very well.

And if you are given a day totally off how do you spend it?

A day off is rare but when I do get one I just try and be a regular 20 year old and see friends and family. Trying to fit it around any racing I need to watch that day!

Alfie getting a rare chance to sit back and relax...was this before another rollicking?!?!

I really want to thank Alfie for taking the time out of his schedule to have a chat to me and hope anyone reading this enjoys getting an insight into a young jockey's life as much as I did! This was a pleasure to write so I just want to thank Alfie once again, hopefully he can get a good few rides over the Festive period and add to that winning tally of his...I am sure that must be at the top of his list to Santa!