Best of my fun...
The Flat jockey on swearing by an Equicizer, lucky genes and old-school music
Flat jockey Josephine Gordon
My secret weapon...
Goal setting. I think it’s always important to have something to work towards and aim for. At the beginning of the season, I always make a list of what I want to achieve and it was particularly useful for me when I was chasing the championship apprentice title last season [which Josephine won].
My best tip for getting racing fit…
Get yourself a jockey coach and work on an Equicizer. I did a lot with [jockey coach] John Reid when I was an apprentice and it was invaluable — they make you work hard. Race-riding is such a different type of fitness to any other sport — working two or three times a week on an Equicizer is the closest you can get to the real thing.
My favourite restaurant…
I often go with [fellow jockey] Georgia Cox to the Thai Street Café in Newmarket, which does brilliant food and great cocktails.
When I am watching…
I am more of a movie watcher and love a girls’ night in with a film and pizza. The last film I went to see at the cinema, though, was the horror film It — it was “jumpy”, but also quite funny. I enjoy a bit of Game of Thrones, too, and have ordered series two on
DVD for when I have a driver taking me to the races and can put it on in the car.
When I am getting away from it all…
It’s always nice to get away somewhere hot, where there is a pool and a few cocktails, although I always find myself itching to get back on the horses after a few days. I do go back to my mum’s in Devon but, because there are horses there, it’s hard to switch off completely.
When I am in the car listening to…
My taste in music is old-school and I love a good CD while I’m driving — Rod Stewart would have to be one of my favourites! I need something upbeat to drive to, especially as I’m usually driving back from the races late at night.
My earliest equestrian memory…
It was riding my two Shetlands, Blackberry and Apple, who taught me to ride — my mum had me on them before I could walk. I was pretty much born on a horse — Mum rode right up to her labour and I was two weeks early.
My biggest indulgence…
I am quite lucky as far as being a jockey goes, in that I can eat anything I want and I don’t have to worry about my weight — it must be down to good genes. I can enjoy chocolate when I want it.
Remembering what I would tell my 15-year-old self…
That it’s going to be bloody hard and you will have to give it everything. I think it’s easy for young jockeys who’ve come straight out of school to get mixed up in the wrong crowd. So I would say just stay focused, keep your head down and work hard.
‘I’d tell my 15-year-old self to stay focused, keep your head down and give it everything’