As a jockey how important is fitness?
If you’re not at 100% you can’t be at the top of your profession so you have to maintain it.
Energy is so important too. Eight hours compared to six hours sleep will make a difference.
When your horse is tired you need to pick him up and if you’re tired yourself you can’t do that. When I was 16 I was nowhere near the physical fitness I am today at 22.
Fitness and strength is so important to me. I couldn’t have people saying ‘She can’t ride a finish because she’s a girl’. What’s your workout regime?
You can’t get yourself really fit unless you’re race riding. Cardio comes into it but it’s more static strength and balance. You need to make sure you’re in sync with your horse. It’s the same as a rowing team – you need to be in sync or you’ll be all over the place.
I don’t go to the gym but I go climbing at least once, sometimes twice a week and I go swimming once a week, too. I also like going mountain biking. I work in a yard for racehorse trainer Paul Nicholls and to help my body work a bit harder. To get hotter I put on an extra jumper to muck out! What about your diet?
I sit around 9st 8lb or 9st 9lb and I don’t worry about what I eat in terms of amounts. Generally I eat like a horse. I’m lucky as I’d hate living off an apple a day. But I don’t eat rubbish. Fast food gives you no energy and as a jockey you try to focus on foods that will. Chicken for protein, peppers as your veg. I eat pasta too. I also make a load of cottage pies and chuck them in the freezer. They only take half an hour to heat up in the oven. What do you normally eat for breakfast? Breakfast doesn’t really happen for me as it’s the busiest time of the day, but I will have a cup of tea. How about lunch? In winter I’d have soup but to be honest it’s always something quick as I want to have an hour’s sleep at lunchtime. I’d be useless without that sleep. If I’m at the races I’ll have a cup of tea and if there’s a nice wrap I’ll have that. And dinner? The day can be so unpredictable that you don’t have time. So dinner is important, it’s my big meal of the day. I’ll have stew, cottage pie, lasagne, pasta or chicken. Do you snack in between meals?
A chocolate bar every now and then if I’m craving it – a Galaxy caramel bar. I do love those. What do you drink during the day?
I do drink a lot of tea and coffee and I’m bad with sugar. I’ll have at least two sugars in a tea or coffee but at the races it could get up to five. That’s an unhealthy part of my life but it gets my energy levels were they need to be.
I do like a glass of Coca Cola too, although I certainly wouldn’t have one of those every day. What’s your favourite meal to eat out? I’m not too bothered about starters but I love a good steak. Cooked medium rare and with a peppercorn sauce. A chocolate dessert of some kind too, if I want something sweet. What’s your favourite tipple? I don’t drink alcohol generally, although I did treat myself to a glass of champagne after winning my first ever Grade One race on Black Corton on Boxing Day!
I think I had a mouthful and then left the rest on the table though, so you couldn’t call me a big drinker. Are there any other health issues you have to consider?
Obviously you never know if or when you might have a fall, but I’ve been lucky in that since July 2017 I’ve only had three.
These things can come in waves though, so you can’t take anything for granted. MOORE JAMES • Gentle rotating action works like fine tweezers but - it is estimated - 50 times faster • Integral LED light to
illuminate the tiniest hairs • Ideal for use on the chin, upper lip, cheeks, legs, bikini line and under arms • Fully rechargeable for years of satisfaction, it comes with its own carry pouch and cleaning brush Rechargeable Hair No More I enclose a cheque for £ Or please debit my… Signature SNACK ATTACK: HEALTHY HOSPITALS: PAIN IN THE NECK: