POV: “Jockeys are breaking themselves infront of our eyes” (Ben Keith)

In this week’s POV column, Ben Keith discusses why the Champion Jockey title is one of racing’s most damaging obsessions…

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Johnny Murtagh
Pat Eddery
Kieran Fallon
Oisin Murphy

What do they all have in common?

They have all succumbed to the desperation of alcoholism

Oh, and on a virtually meaningless life level; were champion jockeys

What does being champion jockey even mean?

Essentially, Usain Bolt is rushing off, all over the country, in this heat, at every hour of the day, from winning Olympic Golds, to run against hippos, like me, in the Dad’s Race, to tally up most victories. Most victories of non-events, not Derbies and Grand Nationals

Why?

Of course, it is important we all put back in to grass roots levels of Horse & Greyhound Racing. And appearances from top competitors are a much appreciated addition to a day’s racing

But at what cost?

Young people starving and dehydrating themselves to death, and keeping themselves alive and able to cope with the physical and mental strain being put on them, by drinking alcohol or taking drugs?

And who is putting them under this pressure?

Themselves? NO

Lazy journalists and media outlets who want easy copy – that’s who

Why not research some awkward questions for those in positions of responsibility? Oh no, we wouldn’t want that, Blog! I mean, god forbid we ruffle any feathers, and put any decision-makers under pressure regarding the consequences of their naive and uncommercial decisions

Nobody cares about the jockeys championship.
It’s not even a thing.
It’s not a test of riding winners of the best races. It’s a masochistic, public smashing to bits of a young sportsperson, to see who will break the most

I urge racing media to question themselves, before pushing Oisin Murphy back towards a bottle, or young Billy Loughnane in the same direction. OWN IT

In other news:

Richard Flint’s book NAP in his #Top10 was the business masterclass “Good To Great” by Jim Collins. I read it. Was wildly impressed.

🔟 | #Top10 RICHARD FLINT

🗳️ Would you ever enter politics?

😫 How did you deal with the stress of running SkyBet?

⭕️ What’s your best quality as a bookmaker?

Watch @BenStarSports‘ latest Top 10 interview with @YorkshireFlint below!👇 pic.twitter.com/B0de6TfDZ0

— Star Sports Bookmakers (@StarSports_Bet) March 26, 2025

And sent a copy to my counsel, Jayne Leggett. Jayne said she would read it and come for coffee to discuss what she too had learnt. She did. And what did Jayne have to say? “I think we need to get to Good before we consider going on to Great” and there she left it. SERVING IT UP

Over and out, B x

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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