THE PERFECT MENTOR FOR YOUNG JOCKEYS

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Damian Browne has many memories of his race riding career, from the pleasure of his multiple Group 1 victories ... who will ever forget Browne’s international success on Buffering in the Group 1 Al Quoz in Dubai ... to the despair of severe injuries, one of which resulted in him carrying pain for close to a decade, before a chronic side-effect of the medication his was taking for that ailment ultimately became a serious enough health issue which forced him into a very reluctant retirement.

Browne is in a small club of riders ... those we would call ‘horseman’ ... and yes there can be a distinct difference between a jockey and a jockey who is a horseman.

A dictionary definition of the word horseman reads, ‘a rider of horses, especially one whose skill is exceptional’ ... and that latter clarification defines Browne, which is why it was so important that Browne’s particular expertise was not lost to the industry and why it is so easily understood that the response to the launch, just weeks ago, of the Damian Browne Mentoring Program, in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast Turf club, is already a delivering success.

“It’s taken off really quickly,” said Browne. “I was there as a trackwork supervisor and I was trying to do the job I was there for as well as trying to give the kids the help they needed, so I thought if I am going to do that part of it as well, I might as well do it properly, so I went and talked to John Miller, the CEO here.

“We talked about the possibility of establishing a mentoring program and, with the club’s support, we got it up and running.

“The basic layout of the program covers many aspects but, obviously, everybody is different and they will be at different stages of what they need from the program. There are those who are active on race-days. There are others who are just going through the trials. It’s implemented on a case-by-case basis.

“Amongst other things, depending on who we are working with at the time, we can walk the track together ... or do videos or watch replays. We go through what to expect with all of the procedures and cover some safety aspects. I show them a few exercises that might help them with their stability and their balance. We even cover etiquette in the stewards’ room ... like teaching them to read the room, and probably above all, the program tries to teach them to understand the horse.

“There are no modules to do. We are not doing paperwork or anything like that.

“The program is there to benefit those who want to take benefit from it ... and my view is that I only want anyone to be here if they want to be here. If they don’t want to be here, I don’t want them to be here, so therefore the premise is that those who come into the program do want to learn.

“I want to try and keep it pretty much to a one-on-one basis.

“To do that you obviously have to manage your time and workload. I thought I’d be doing it every Thursday afternoon at the start, but I’m already doing it every day.

“I enjoy it. Even going to the track in the morning (at 4am), I enjoy watching these kids and being able to help them in any way.

“The way you see them improve it is quite satisfying ... and it gives me a little thrill that I’d probably lost from not being able to ride winners anymore.”

So, there it is.

A very positive addition to the activities at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club with a flow on effect through the industry which translates into a win / win situation for all concerned.

More articles