Yes, Yutaki Take has earned more from riding winners due to Japan’s higher scale prizemoney but Piggott, regarded widely as the all-time greatest, was also the most frugal.
Piggott was gaoled for tax fraud, sentenced to three years and did one. However, during a long riding career and still earning at 55, he won 4493 races in Great Britain and 5,300 worldwide.
Purton made Honkers on the recommendation of John Schreck, the former Australian Jockey Club chief steward. It was a tough market to crash. Schreck had the ear to those who mattered. Many in Australia questioned Shreck’s judgement regarding Purton. Nobody doubted Purton’s ability but application?
“Purton went through a stage of packing his bags and wanting to return home,” Schreck relates. “Nicole would not let him leave, the policy was ‘stay and make it here’.”
Many jockeys earn big money but are more equipped to betting ring than investment opportunities elsewhere.
George Moore, a legend on horseback, who trained in Hong Kong, was more astute than most. BHP was a favourite. He also did stints as landed gentry. Pleasing to the soul but bank balance?
Others survived but few compounded on their earnings, risking life and limb most days as a career, no easy landings either in Hong Kong. Ask Darren Beadman.
Twelve years back Purton, at 30, realised he had to earn enough to sustain his family when he quit riding.
“As an athlete, I have a shelf life; I can only ride for a certain period of time,” Purton told The Australian Financial Review. “So I have to make the most of that, and then I have to invest, hopefully wisely, so that it can sustain the rest of my life.”
Enter Purton’s “wealth advisor” Ben Smythe on “being diligent with the mega bucks instead of leaping at claims of high returns or spending beyond means.”
Prior to the champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, Purton was considering hanging up his boots and saddles. Too young considering father-in-law “Pumper” Cassidy and the ageless Nash Rawiller. Late forties were golden years for them.
Still why play Russian roulette on horseback when retreat with substance is safer?
It’s all GOOD as racing goes back to grass roots: Jonson pulled off a “Pop” Conners-like coup at Wyong last Saturday.
“Pop” Conners was the great grandfather of Mitchell Conners and grandfather of Mark Conners who prepared Jonson to take the final event. Clarrie Conners is father of Mark but plonks for him are long gone. Clarrie specialises in Golden Slippers.
There was nothing sneaky about Jonson, a three-year-old with form, nor a significant rider switch. Unfashionable but capable, Deanne Panya, his regular partner, did the job that saw Jonson successfully firm from $5 to $3.50 officially but the course broadcaster chanted “he is in to $2.90”.
The Conners partnership knew what they had with Jonson, but without the desperation of “Pop” Conners and his son, Clarrie back in the era when they shared accommodation in a horse stall. Getting a good thing ready had to pay for the food and shelter for their horse and personal sustenance.
Like them Dylan Gibbons was as good as expected on Thebudgiesmugla in Saturday’s Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast but fronted stewards “regarding tactics adopted”.
The gelding had to overcome a wide gate, a situation that plays havoc with so many strong chances.
A mouthful out of Hot Pants, Thebudgiesmugla usually goes forward but Gibbons went back. Gibbons adapted to the circumstances and stipes accepted his explanation. I do not like the rule about a switch in riding instructions: BAD they have to explain initiative.
The suggestion that Thebudgiesmugla is a Melbourne Cup contender prompted dismay – at first. After all the five-year-old only had 54kg and beat common opposition.
But what about Half Yours, successful in the Caloundra Cup last year before taking the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup? Half Yours carried the same weight and beat Bear On the Lose who hasn’t won another race.
The Darley syndicated “smuggler” is prepared by Bjorn Baker, the trainer with an improving touch and knack of maintaining form.
Well, what about Darley’s Midnight Dynamite ($4.80), prepared by him, in the Winter at Rosehill on Saturday? Midnight Dynamite ran good but was beaten by a bad barrier (10).
Alas South Sydney were downed by Penrith due to the petulance of Cody Walker, a veteran who should know better. That’s Cody? Balderdash. It’s not acceptable.
With the game in balance Walker lashed out with a foot, UGLY, received 10 minutes in the sin-bin which eventuated in disaster for the team, including a match suspension. Many Rabbit diehards want him gone, surely not another season they argued but I recalled all the beautiful passes and sharp dash. Skills that Walker has, even diminished, cannot be purchased.
But after the Panther stupidly let him go.
Errol Gulden also had a brain snap for the Swans last week against the Bulldogs costing six points. Put it down to youthful exuberance.
With the ability of Gulden, the return of Tom Papley, the greatness of Isaac Heeney, the dazzle of Chad Warner and grunt of Brodie Grundy, now coupled with the explosion of “Curley” Curnow, surely a flag in 2026 isn’t one too far.
Horse-sense: Reared on a daily double as the only exotic, a Yankee, the popular bet in the United Kingdom, intrigued me. Bob O’Dwyer, in a letter to “The Spectator”, explained about a turbo charged Yankee: four horses in 11 bets (six doubles, four trebles, and a four-horse accumulator.)
O’Dwyer reckons it “promised untold riches, but it was the sensible bets on the likes of Pat Eddery and Steve Cauthen (substitute Nash Rawiller and Rachel King) that kept me ticking over.”
“I love the description of gambling as buying hope on credit, and as long as you continue to stake small and hope large there is no reason why others should not enjoy as I have, a lifetime of punting.”
