THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - TOO MUCH PRAISE, TOO SOON, CAN DERAIL A RIDER'S FUTURE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, July 13, 2014

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily

In his three city engagements since being granted a Metropolitan jockey’s license at the start of July apprentice jockey Jimmy Orman has produced three winning rides.

That one hundred percent record, as brief as it might be, represents a return beyond expectations for any young rider at a time when he is taking such a big step up in class and it has momentarily pushed Orman into the limelight.

That, in itself, brings another challenge.

It is a tough game out there for apprentices. Going from the bush to provincial racing is one thing. Handling the divide from provincial to city class racing, where they are pitted against the state’s best riders, is something else altogether and when somebody goes through those grades with a flourish, as Orman has done, they certainly do deserve due recognition.

How that recognition is fashioned though can be a very important factor in terms of its impact upon a rider’s on-going career.

It is a sad fact of life that sometimes riders get too much praise, too soon, for their own good.

Of course it will always be up to the individuals, and those of influence around them, as to whether they will safely navigate the route through the treacherous temptation of believing their own press and maintain the solid focus of staying grounded.

Ever generation can talk about apprentices who ‘lost their way.’ Clearly, it is a matter of record and a sobering reality that few of those touted as future stars go on to match the outcome with the prediction.

Premature and exaggerated praise can often be found as a factor in their demise.

The boom on Orman has not reached that exaggerated stage yet … and hopefully it will not do so. Afterall, he is only one of a number of talented riders in the state.

But, I do feel it to be a pertinent time to point out the danger we can create with our good intentions.

To me, there is a subtle difference between offering praise and offering encouragement that needs to be understood if the exercise is to have the desired effect.

Quite simply, too much praise too soon can be as much a burden as a boost to a rider’s career but a rider can never receive too much encouragement.

For the rider’s sake, we all should be careful to note the difference.

**************************************************************************************************

Today is the third last meeting of the season at Corbould Park.

Barring something special, the Sunshine Coast will have a new name of the Trainer’s Premiership as Stuart Kendrick holds a comfortable lead in that division where he is currently the only trainer to have topped twenty winners. Liam Birchley will finish runner-up.

In the race for the Jockey’s Premiership, Damian Browne is close to adding another notch to his belt.

He has pulled away from the pack, being the only rider currently to have more than thirty winners on the board, but the competitive nature of the contest is emphasised by the chase for the runner-up spot where only four wins separate Eddie Wilkinson, Michael Cahill, Jim Byrne and Tim Bell.

More articles