Ahead of QIPCO British Champions Day this Saturday (17 October), the master of Flat racing Frankie Dettori gives us a taste of what life is like for a jockey on raceday
This Saturday (17 October) the weather is set to be fair and crowds will descend on Ascot racecourse for the finale of the Flat season — QIPCO British Champions Day.
As the richest raceday in the British calendar, this is racegoers chance to see the world’s finest horses and jockeys battle it out for their slice of history, with six races on the card.
But what is life like for the jockeys behind the scenes?
The master of Flat racing, 44-year-old Frankie Dettori, grabs a head cam to give us a taste Champions from the otherside…
Starting from the moment he wakes up, this video tracks Frankie riding out, heading to the course, being mobbed by autograph hunters and enjoying some banter with his weighing room colleagues, before heading out on track and signing off with his iconic flying dismount in the winners’ enclosure.
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“QIPCO British Champions Day is the showpiece racing event of the autumn in Britain and this video helps fans get an idea of what a jockey gets up to on such a big day,” says Frankie.
“The introduction of a camera on the helmets of jockeys during recent races has helped to give fans a different view of the action on the track, but I was keen to try and show the world the jockeys’ view of their daily routine as well.
“Nowhere else in Britain are there four Group 1 races in a single day and we wanted to show the importance to a jockey of riding the winners in these big races and the feelings you have before then. To have the chance to be a part of these races is the reason we spend all year riding across the country.”
Tickets from £30. Gates open at 10.30am with the first race at 12.45pm. Visit www.ascot.co.uk
Don’t miss our full report from Champions Day in the 22 October issue of Horse & Hound magazine