LIFE OUT OF THE SADDLE

Richard Eagle asks where have yesterday's saddle heroes gone

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Racing fans of longer years, treated to regular reminders of yesterday's four-legged heroes, might wonder 'where are they now?' when thinking back on two-legged stars who have long hung up their boots.

Some jockeys become trainers of course, but others who may have influenced us to follow the sport have built second careers more loosely and variously connected to the track action.

My first visit back to Fontwell Park in the new National Hunt season gave me the opportunity to catch up with clerk of the course there, Philip Hide, and racecourse hospitality adviser Colin Brown - both were top jumps jockeys in their time in the saddle.

A former professional National Hunt jockey, Philip, rode over 400 winners in a career spanning 19 years before broken bones and three hip operations took their toll.

"I just ran out of hips," he told me.. "But I went on to be assistant to Gary Moore for six years and later on to train racehorses, mainly on the Flat. Ironically I had 80 winners at Brighton which is where I was offered the opportunity to learn the ropes as a clerk of the course.

"I was fortunate to ride for trainers like Josh Gifford and Gary," he added and his career highlight was Brief Gale’s win in the 1995 Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival meeting.

No need to ask what Colin Brown's highlight was, I don’t know a National Hunt jockey who wouldn't have wanted to ride Desert Orchid. Colin gained 17 wins on the most famous of greys and is credited as the man who got Dessie to settle during races, as the horse was a strong puller in his early days over obstacles.