Jockeys rewarded for success in careers after racing
Former jockeys Mark Bradburne and David Da Silva were rewarded for their second careers out of the saddle last month at Cheltenham racecourse.
The Griffins Richard Davis Awards are given in memory of the late Richard Davis who started planning for his future before his fatal fall in 1996.
They were established by the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS) and are now in their 17th year.
On 18 November former jump jockey Mark Bradburne was given the Griffins Achievement Award of £3,000, which goes to the jockey to have achieved the most in developing a second career this year.
Over the past three years of race riding the 36-year-old planned ahead by retraining as an electrician with the help of grants and advice from JETS.
During his career as a jockey he broke his back twice, and retired from race riding last year. He has now established a successful electrical business.
“I still love racing but I needed a sustainable income to support my family,” said Mark.
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“It’s a thrill to win the award because it gives me the opportunity to progress the business.
“I would love to work with local colleges and organisations to give other jockeys the option of taking electrical qualifications and doing something different.”
David Da Silva took the Injured Jockeys Fund Progress Award of £2,000, which goes to the individual who has made the most progress in their career development.
With the help of JETS grants, David enrolled in a plumbing course at Perth College and is now mid-way through his training as a gas engineer with British Gas in Scotland.
The Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme helps jockeys with career advice and training in order to gain employment after race riding.
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.