Jockey records over 600 victories
KELLEY TANTAU
Sam Collett has learned that being a jockey means being passionate, empathetic and thick-skinned.
The Tirau-based, Matamata Racing Club jockey, has 606 wins to her name; this season alone she’s claimed 117.
She was recently invited to Japan for the Allstar World Jockeys’ Series, to represent New Zealand and Australia in her craft.
But being a jockey is both mentally and physically taxing, she said. And despite female riders continuing to dominate in the racing world, they are still copping a bit of flak.
Collett began riding racehorses at age 16. She got her first horse at age three, and since then, has had a close connection to the animals.
‘‘My parents were both jockeys when I was a child, so it was a career that seemed like a logical one, even though it wasn’t my first option.
‘‘At school I thought I was going to be smart enough to be a vet but that didn’t work out,’’ Collett said.
‘‘Horses were just what I knew and that was the path I chose.’’
Now 28, Collett’s invitation to the World Allstars Jockeys’ Series follows in the footsteps of her premiership-winning father Jim.
The four-race series will take place on consecutive days at Sapporo racecourse on August 25 and 26.
But reaching invitational status has meant needing to overcome mental and physical barriers, Collett said.
‘‘It is a physically demanding sport. You have to be able to control a half tonne animal. But it’s not just strength, you have to have a feel for this horse.’’
And with the ride of social media, Collett’s job has become a lot more public.
‘‘Jockeys and trainers are open to the public eye now on social media, and we can get horrible messages from people crucifying you for your ride.
‘‘I try not to take too much of that home with me. It’s very easy to do though,’’ she said.
‘‘And a lot of the time you get taken off horses and they want to try other riders, so you have to have a bit of thick-skin.
‘‘As a woman, you probably cop a little bit more of that, having to be a little tougher, but in terms of what it’s made me as a person, it’s helped me deal with life outside of racing so much better.’’
As a freelance jockey, Collett rides horses that are based in all parts of the country, and an added challenge is learning every horse’s quirks quickly.
‘‘It’s the same as walking into a bar with 30 people and everyone’s got a different personality; this is walking into a bar with 30 horses,’’ she said.
‘‘As a rider, there’s not many horses I’d say I don’t get along with, but you do get some horses that will perform better for other riders.’’
Collett said some horses even respond better to a more feminine touch.
‘‘These horses are bred to run, like hunting dogs are bred to hunt, but there is physically no way for us to make them do what we want to do.
‘‘So to be part of something where you get to ride a horse that has such a will to win, is the biggest satisfaction for me as jockey.’’
Though there was still a lot of stigma around the racing industry, Collett said New Zealand was one of the leading countries producing both top-tier male and female riders.
‘‘Whatever you see on the trackside or on TV, is such a small portion of everything that goes towards the industry.
‘‘The people behind the scenes do it for no glory and just for the love of their job. Us jockeys only play a very small role in the grand scheme of things,’’ she said.
‘‘At the end of the day, our industry provides jobs for not only people but careers for these horses.’’