My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Unlike the virtual Kentucky Derby, which was a run-off between past champions, the 2020 Virtual Aintree Grand National featured the 40 horses who were already entered. Tiger Roll, who won the last two Grand Nationals, had been due to seek an unprecedented third consecutive win until the race was canceled because of the coronavirus. I […]
Read More
Since horses see colors differently than humans, so it’s important to consider jump colors as they can influence horse and rider safety. Horses have dichromatic vision, which means they have two receptor types (light-sensitive cells in the retina of the eye) used in color vision. This gives them limited color vision, with the ability to […]
Read More
Horse racing is one of the only sports where men and women compete against each other, although women still represent only a small fraction of professional jockeys. In the US, women comprise only 14% of working jockeys and ride in only 10% of race starts. Only 2% ride at the elite level of the Triple […]
Read More
You have to watch this truly unbelievable ride by Aaron Kuru on Des De Jeu. After the horse “landed a bit steep” after the first fence and went down on his belly, the jockey was able to swing a leg over the saddle and get back on as Des De Jeu stood up. Make sure […]
Read More
Just as well for Tiger Roll that the finish line came when it did. The 8-year old Irish gelding ridden by Davy Russell won the 2018 Aintree Grand National in a photo finish, holding off a late run by Pleasant Colony. A few more strides and the outcome might have been different! One of the […]
Read More
As we head into the Aintree Grand National Weekend, this jockey cam video gives you a great feeling for what those fences are like without the chaos of the race. Ride along with jockey AP McCoy on Hello Bud, an 18-year old chaser. Pretty impressive to be jumping that course at age 18, don’t you […]
Read More
Right now I have a special interest in studying equestrians recovering from broken bones. How long before they rode again? How injured were they? Did it make them more cautious. For example, champion UK jockey Ruby Walsh fractured his tibia at Punchestown in November, but he set his sights on the Cheltenham Festival, which starts […]
Read MoreDick Francis fans will recognize the name Cheltenham as the setting of several of his racing novels — Damage, Under Orders, and Comeback to name a few — which makes it a destination event for racing fans worldwide. England’s Cheltenham Festival was first held in 1860 and was first held in Prestley Park, its current […]
Read More