Who’s that jockey?

WHO would have expected early last Saturday that we’d see Emmet McNamara interviewed on the BBC Evening news bulletins? After winning one of the world’s greatest races? Frankie apart, how many jockeys have we even seen on news programmes?

For someone a general audience would not have known, Emmet proved hugely capable in conveying all the instructions, emotions and how the race was won in the aftermath of the Derby. Suddenly he’s a more recognised figure.

One of the few good things to have come from all the restrictions in racing and at the tracks, are the after-race interviews with jockeys.

It was always unfortunate for the promotion of jockeys as sportsmen, that so many jockeys are barely recognisable, and with little opportunity to change this.

But now even though they are wearing masks when in a race, the post race interviews now take place after weigh-in and when the helmets have been dispensed and reveal so more and that there are many riders well worth listening to.

Jockeys generally suffer badly from not being recognised due to being ‘dressed for action’ for the majority of the time we see them and interviews are often snatched as they return to unsaddle or on the way to weigh-in.

Oisin Murphy has been in a class of his own, front and centre, explaining what went right, what went wrong and what might happen in the future. And offering behind the scenes insights of the horses on social media, now a greater part of promoting the sport.

Ben Curtis and Tom Marquand, two of those also in contention for the champion jockey title, have also come across as more than one dimensional men on a horse. Buick and Doyle were always good speakers too. Here we have the likes of Colin Keane and Wayne Lordan. And we have Hollie Doyle’s consistent excellence and rise as to the top as another angle to create interest. Mainstream media take their lead from who they see on the racing channels.

Once I was on the ‘what will we do when Frankie goes’ bandwagon, with so few recognisable people in the sport, but recent months have shown many more of the younger riders are becoming more recognisable and are excellent communicators. It can only be good whenever things get back to a more normal state of play.