Jacqueline Coward: The true amateur, false starts and the importance of landowners [H&H VIP]

I’ve been in a few false starts this season. People tend to race off before everyone is ready, but all it achieves is unsettled horses. As a general rule, we tend to discuss who is “making it” and leading the field at the start of the race. Some jockeys will ask if they can lead because their horse is a better front-runner, or some prefer to settle the horse in behind the rest of the field.My advice for novice jockeys is to communicate, as we are all there to help each other.

While we’re on the subject of etiquette, I’d like to follow on from my fellow columnist Darren Edwards’ comment: “let’s not forget the landowners”.

We are losing a lot of long-standing courses and must make sure we look after the courses we have left.

Without the landowners, we wouldn’t have courses to run on, but we should also spare a thought for the many volunteers who give up their time to help run meetings, too.

If the chance arises, thank the landowner and organisers, because a thank you goes a long way and without them, pointing wouldn’t happen at all.

Jacqueline’s column was first published in Horse & Hound (13 February, 2014)

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