The Finest UK & Irish Jockeys Ever
Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the British Isles, with the first ever race occurring in 1622. It was a race between Lord Salisbury’s and the Marquess of Buckingham’s horses for a bet of £100. With inflation, that figure stands at around £18,000 today.
Since then, horse racing has been a staple of British society. Across the country, there’s over 59 racecourses, a mixture between jumps and flats, and the sport is as popular as ever.
The thrill of racing is unmatched, as well as the unpredictability. Nonetheless, certain jockeys are more successful than others, and it all comes down to their talent and affinity with the horse.
The most famous race – the Grand National held every year in Aintree, Liverpool has the entire nation on the edge of their seats. The prize is huge, and the most successful trainer in the history of the Grand National is Vincent O’Brien who won the race 3 times.
Yet, this piece is about the most successful jockeys. Let’s jump in!
Sir Tony McCoy
One of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of modern times, Tony McCoy is a legend of the sport. He won the Grand National once after 19 attempts on Don’t Push It in 2010. Nevertheless, McCoy won 4358 times throughout his career, winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times.
At the height of his career, JP McManus paid McCoy £1m per year retainer for his talents, and it’s fair to say McManus earned more than that money back. Horse racing is a huge industry, which is closely linked to betting. Outside of the UK, horse racing is gaining traction around the world. In recent years, the sport has amassed a following in Asia, as horse racing is one of the few legal gambling activities.
For example, in Thailand, there are seven operational racecourses where fans can back their favorite horses. Punters watching the race on TV are able to join in the action by wagering on safe betting sites (พนันกีฬาออนไลน์) that are available in their local language. To assist bettors, online platforms have compared all the best bookmakers available to Thai players and compiled this information in one place for players to easily select the ones that suit their needs based on the services offered and bonuses each operator gives. On the site, advice is given on how to play legally, and you’re even able to claim a welcome bonus to get started.
Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori made his name in flat racing, with all-time great Lester Piggot saying he was the most talented jockey of his day. He has been the British flat racing champion three times and won over 3000 races.
After racing, Dettori became a TV celebrity, being a captain on BBC’s A Question of Sport. In addition, he opened a restaurant with TV chef Marco Pierre White called Frankie’s Italian Bar and Grill in Putney, London.
Dettori had an illustrious career, to say the least, winning at racecourses globally. Nonetheless, most of his success came in the UK, and he admitted he’s an ardent Anglophile.
Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh was born on May 14th, 1979, and became a professional jockey at just 18. He made the headlines in 2000 when he competed in his first-ever Grand National and won it, at 20.
The Grand National win propelled Walsh’s career, going on to win over 2500 races. He rode the legendary horse Kauto Star winning the 2007 and 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cups.
Walsh is from a racing family, with his sister Katie also being one of the top female jockeys in the sport. Moreover, his brother, Ted is married to Nina Carberry, another elite female jockey.
Lester Piggot
Regarded by many as the GOAT by most racing fans, Piggot holds the record for the greatest number of wins. In total, Piggot won 4493 races including a record 9 Epsom Derby victories.
He came from a family that has horse racing in their blood. His grandfather, Ernest Piggot won the Grand National three times (1910, 1913, 1915) and he married the sister of a famous jockey, Kempton Cannon. Lester Piggots father – Keith was also a jockey. He won the National Hurdle in 1939 and later became a successful trainer.
Lester was tall for a jockey (5”, 8”) which garnered him the nickname “The Long Fellow”, and struggled to keep weight throughout his career. However, he was a master jockey, winning all the major titles in flat racing.