Recently retired rider’s great racetrack record
FOR the past 15 years or so I have been privileged to have reported on the success of Pembrokeshire’s Jodie Hughes, who recently hung up her race-riding boots.
Whether it has been on the flat, over the sticks or between-the flags, Jodie, five-times winner of the Welsh point-to-point ladies’ championship, chalked up 90 winners from around 500 rides.
And, but for the Covid outbreak, she would more than likely have ridden her 100th winner.
When she first started riding in point-to-points at the age of 16, she was competing against top riders like Dai Jones, Evan Williams and Bridget Lewis.
She said: “The last few years I found myself riding alongside their children, Ben Jones, Isabel Williams and Anna Lewis!’’
Her first ride on her father Graham’s Sip Of Brandy was nothing to write home about as she fell off at the very first fence.
However, she rode him in another race later in the day and finished fourth.
It was on Sip Of Brandy that she rode her first winner in a Ludlow hunter chase in 2003.
However, her most memorable win was when riding 100-1 shot Panache in a two-mile hurdle race at Worcester, as she beat the legendary AP McCoy, who was riding the favourite.
She has ridden a winner at Limerick in Ireland and completed the course in the Aintree Fox Hunters on
Tony Star for Mickey Bowen.
She said: “I’ve enjoyed many hunter chase and point-to-point wins for Mickey and I’ve had a lot of support over the years from Luke Price, Sherree Embley and Dai Brace.’’
It was on Bridgend builder Roger Willcox’s Getaway Flyer that she rode her last point-to-point winner and
many hunt-racing enthusiasts will associate her with his Patricktom Boru, on whom she chalked-up nine wins.
She told me: “I have represented Great Britain in Arab flat races in Abu Dhabi, Oman and Mauritius.’’
On retiring, she said: “I decided to ride my own horse Morehurryles
shaste in my father’s racing colours one last time, which I did at Southwell recently.
“I feel so lucky to have enjoyed so much success through my journey and I feel more lucky to be able to retire on my own terms.’’
Leading Welsh rider Isabel Williams said: “Jodie is kind and caring,
but most of all very competitive to ride against. I enjoyed her company in the weighing room whilst riding in point-to-points.’’
■ You can send your racing news and views to Brian Lee by emailing brianlee4@virginmedia.com or phoning 029 2073 6438.