hobbes
01-03-2002, 07:32
Tragic fall of a flawed jockey is a sad story of addiction
By Max Presnell / Sydney Morning Herald 1.03.02
Maybe Hugh Bowman can learn from the Chris Antley story.
Back in 1988, Antley, a US jockey, was only 22 when I met him at Tokyo's Japan Cup meeting. In the American vernacular, he could be described as a "regular kind of guy".
Looking at his stats, he was a young rider with a remarkable work ethic, a demanding load far greater than his Australian counterparts. Still, it came as a shock when he was later identified as being fuelled by cocaine.
What is it they say about how we follow the US in just about every way, albeit a few years behind?
Now Bowman, the boy from Coonamble, steeped in bush lore and from a caring family, has come up against the wretched white powder.
Every parent dreads the possibility but it can happen. With Bowman, going on previous form, the odds were 100-1 against. Bowman is a horseman and, seemingly, a young man with a mission. But a young man, nevertheless.
"To keep going" was the explanation Ron Quinton, former master of Bowman and a champion jockey, offered when discussing why the youngster took the drug. Some would say possibly for professional reasons but in Bowman's case it was more recreational. Cocaine has a reputation for being the chosen hit of the riding profession worldwide.
Only a couple of months ago in Hong Kong, Andreas Starke, an outstanding German jockey, tested positive to cocaine. Six months on the sideline.
Jockeys in Hong Kong, though, are hardly stressed with ceaseless activity. Antley, on the other hand, needed endurance. At times he rode 10 races a day, seven days a week.
"It's tough to ride day and night every day of the year," Antley told me. "I've got to keep clicking to the end of the year but winning keeps me pumped up."
For instance, in 1987 he handled nine different horses to score in one day and then two years later he had a 64-day winning streak: yes, he won least one race every day for 64 days straight. He notched 234 wins that year and then surrendered his licence after testing positive to cocaine and diet pills.
Antley later struggled to maintain his weight. He was quoted as being as strict in his lifestyle as a super model, "resorting to bulimic behaviour, crash diets and ultimately drugs to keep his weight down and his energy up".
Cocaine was the upper and marijuana the downer, and was the double taken from Antley samples.
We get the impression with Bowman, big in stature for a jockey, that he got into the fast lane to keep up socially. Young men are entitled to a life after the last race.
And weight reduction with jockeys has always played a role in substance abuse. Take, for instance, Steve Cauthen, another American former champion hoop. According to reports he was treated for alcoholism. Champagne was his tipple - in considerable quantities.
"Many of his friends believe Cauthen used champagne, low in calories, as food substitute to keep his weight problem in check," Australian Associated Press reported.
Certainly "outside influences" have received a dishonourable mention in connection with Bowman. There have always been parasites prepared to latch onto a promising apprentice or young rider with the purpose of leading them astray. Booze and birds lead to requests for a favour.
But times have changed. Dedication, the one vital ingredient for a top jockey, according to Lester Piggott, a man well qualified to speak on the subject, is on the wane.
Once apprentices were kept under rigid discipline and had to reside at stables, often until they were 21. They are now allowed more freedom and can live in their own units with whom they please.
"In this day and age you just can't keep young people under the strict regimes of the past," said Ray Murrihy, the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board's chief steward.
Bowman, of course, had completed his apprenticeship but racing still has a responsibility and is, by no means, taking the drug situation lightly.
Over the lpast 12 months in the Sydney area, 217 tests were taken from jockeys and strappers for 13 positives, including four jockeys, with Bowman the big fish caught in the net. Taking into consideration the country raids, Murrihy believes samples have been taken from over 600 riders in NSW.
"We test on all levels, not only the elite," Murrihy said.
Bowman's two positives incurred two nine-month penalties to be served concurrently but that will be dropped to six months if the TRB is satisfied that the jockey has completed satisfactory counselling.
"NSW is the only state to apply the [time off for] counselling clause," the chief stipe said, adding that indications are the plan reaps beneficial results.
NSW also tests for the recently outlawed Lasix, a diuretic which can affect judgment as much as health.
Antley bounced back after his early misdemeanours but was regarded as very much a black sheep until he was linked successfully with Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby. But it was an incident later that year which earned him the "moment of the year" award on the same horse.
It was the Belmont Stakes and Antley and Charismatic came in third. But as they crossed the finishing line, the horse faltered. Antley immediately dismounted and, while other finishers bore down on his mount, he used his own body to protect the horse's injured leg, keeping it immobilised until help could reach them.
Drugs, however, extend beyond stimulants. I wrote about strange happenings during Randwick trackwork in March, 1991.
"Trainers feel there are problems concerning strappers and even apprentices during the gallop sessions ... One told me he was surprised when a boy fell off for no apparent reason while riding trackwork on Saturday morning ... he was laughing and giggling ... he was as high as a kite."
Murrihy has moved into the trackwork domain with testing and also barred the energy-sapping Lasix, looking for a better and more healthy way for jockeys to go fast and be light.
As for Antley, this was the final word reported: "One of thoroughbred horse-racing's best known riders, champion jockey Chris Antley, who rode Charismatic to the winner's circle in two out of the three 1999 Triple Crown races, was discovered dead at his home in Pasadena, California, on December 2 2000. Mr Antley, whose wife was due to give birth to their first child in January 2001, was 34 years old and believed a victim of foul play."
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An exceedingly well written and researched article -- 10/10 from me.
what disturbs me is that the penalties given jockeys in several countries for testing +ve to drugs far outweigh those given for "pulling" a horse or to be more euphemistic "not giving it every chance" or "not riding it out to the line".
totally twisted as i see it.
another inequity is the jockeys get suspended for the offences above when a large part of the time it would be under trainer instructions. why do the trainers never get suspended ??
also ( excl macau ) trainers seem to escape altogether from any penalties for drugs administered to the horses either because the labs don't pick it up, don't want to pick it up or if they do cover it up.
given that drug use amongst human athletes seems endemic it is hard to imagine that it is not so for horses especially in countries where there is no history of wiping out trainers for such offences.
note the reference to the recent raid in the UK.
http://www.asianracing.nu/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=000011
By Max Presnell / Sydney Morning Herald 1.03.02
Maybe Hugh Bowman can learn from the Chris Antley story.
Back in 1988, Antley, a US jockey, was only 22 when I met him at Tokyo's Japan Cup meeting. In the American vernacular, he could be described as a "regular kind of guy".
Looking at his stats, he was a young rider with a remarkable work ethic, a demanding load far greater than his Australian counterparts. Still, it came as a shock when he was later identified as being fuelled by cocaine.
What is it they say about how we follow the US in just about every way, albeit a few years behind?
Now Bowman, the boy from Coonamble, steeped in bush lore and from a caring family, has come up against the wretched white powder.
Every parent dreads the possibility but it can happen. With Bowman, going on previous form, the odds were 100-1 against. Bowman is a horseman and, seemingly, a young man with a mission. But a young man, nevertheless.
"To keep going" was the explanation Ron Quinton, former master of Bowman and a champion jockey, offered when discussing why the youngster took the drug. Some would say possibly for professional reasons but in Bowman's case it was more recreational. Cocaine has a reputation for being the chosen hit of the riding profession worldwide.
Only a couple of months ago in Hong Kong, Andreas Starke, an outstanding German jockey, tested positive to cocaine. Six months on the sideline.
Jockeys in Hong Kong, though, are hardly stressed with ceaseless activity. Antley, on the other hand, needed endurance. At times he rode 10 races a day, seven days a week.
"It's tough to ride day and night every day of the year," Antley told me. "I've got to keep clicking to the end of the year but winning keeps me pumped up."
For instance, in 1987 he handled nine different horses to score in one day and then two years later he had a 64-day winning streak: yes, he won least one race every day for 64 days straight. He notched 234 wins that year and then surrendered his licence after testing positive to cocaine and diet pills.
Antley later struggled to maintain his weight. He was quoted as being as strict in his lifestyle as a super model, "resorting to bulimic behaviour, crash diets and ultimately drugs to keep his weight down and his energy up".
Cocaine was the upper and marijuana the downer, and was the double taken from Antley samples.
We get the impression with Bowman, big in stature for a jockey, that he got into the fast lane to keep up socially. Young men are entitled to a life after the last race.
And weight reduction with jockeys has always played a role in substance abuse. Take, for instance, Steve Cauthen, another American former champion hoop. According to reports he was treated for alcoholism. Champagne was his tipple - in considerable quantities.
"Many of his friends believe Cauthen used champagne, low in calories, as food substitute to keep his weight problem in check," Australian Associated Press reported.
Certainly "outside influences" have received a dishonourable mention in connection with Bowman. There have always been parasites prepared to latch onto a promising apprentice or young rider with the purpose of leading them astray. Booze and birds lead to requests for a favour.
But times have changed. Dedication, the one vital ingredient for a top jockey, according to Lester Piggott, a man well qualified to speak on the subject, is on the wane.
Once apprentices were kept under rigid discipline and had to reside at stables, often until they were 21. They are now allowed more freedom and can live in their own units with whom they please.
"In this day and age you just can't keep young people under the strict regimes of the past," said Ray Murrihy, the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board's chief steward.
Bowman, of course, had completed his apprenticeship but racing still has a responsibility and is, by no means, taking the drug situation lightly.
Over the lpast 12 months in the Sydney area, 217 tests were taken from jockeys and strappers for 13 positives, including four jockeys, with Bowman the big fish caught in the net. Taking into consideration the country raids, Murrihy believes samples have been taken from over 600 riders in NSW.
"We test on all levels, not only the elite," Murrihy said.
Bowman's two positives incurred two nine-month penalties to be served concurrently but that will be dropped to six months if the TRB is satisfied that the jockey has completed satisfactory counselling.
"NSW is the only state to apply the [time off for] counselling clause," the chief stipe said, adding that indications are the plan reaps beneficial results.
NSW also tests for the recently outlawed Lasix, a diuretic which can affect judgment as much as health.
Antley bounced back after his early misdemeanours but was regarded as very much a black sheep until he was linked successfully with Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby. But it was an incident later that year which earned him the "moment of the year" award on the same horse.
It was the Belmont Stakes and Antley and Charismatic came in third. But as they crossed the finishing line, the horse faltered. Antley immediately dismounted and, while other finishers bore down on his mount, he used his own body to protect the horse's injured leg, keeping it immobilised until help could reach them.
Drugs, however, extend beyond stimulants. I wrote about strange happenings during Randwick trackwork in March, 1991.
"Trainers feel there are problems concerning strappers and even apprentices during the gallop sessions ... One told me he was surprised when a boy fell off for no apparent reason while riding trackwork on Saturday morning ... he was laughing and giggling ... he was as high as a kite."
Murrihy has moved into the trackwork domain with testing and also barred the energy-sapping Lasix, looking for a better and more healthy way for jockeys to go fast and be light.
As for Antley, this was the final word reported: "One of thoroughbred horse-racing's best known riders, champion jockey Chris Antley, who rode Charismatic to the winner's circle in two out of the three 1999 Triple Crown races, was discovered dead at his home in Pasadena, California, on December 2 2000. Mr Antley, whose wife was due to give birth to their first child in January 2001, was 34 years old and believed a victim of foul play."
==================================================
An exceedingly well written and researched article -- 10/10 from me.
what disturbs me is that the penalties given jockeys in several countries for testing +ve to drugs far outweigh those given for "pulling" a horse or to be more euphemistic "not giving it every chance" or "not riding it out to the line".
totally twisted as i see it.
another inequity is the jockeys get suspended for the offences above when a large part of the time it would be under trainer instructions. why do the trainers never get suspended ??
also ( excl macau ) trainers seem to escape altogether from any penalties for drugs administered to the horses either because the labs don't pick it up, don't want to pick it up or if they do cover it up.
given that drug use amongst human athletes seems endemic it is hard to imagine that it is not so for horses especially in countries where there is no history of wiping out trainers for such offences.
note the reference to the recent raid in the UK.
http://www.asianracing.nu/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=000011