was at the derby today..ears pricked up when steven whitaker was in the parade...what was that about? a bet? has he competed recently? sure he is a good rider..the horses was just having none of the water at 3
not the point lou...as i said i am sure he is a good rider not to mention a fantastic trainer just wondered what it was about...a little out of the blue 20 years after his last attempt ...sure he will get some light hearter ribbing from the other lads..forever for that ali hehe
I thought one of the commentators (the one with the really posh voice, I don't remember their names) was a bit harsh on him. I don't really remember exactly what he said, but his tone just seemed quite scathing. He certainly didn't seem surprised or disappointed when SW retired.
Didn't they say while he was jumping his round that he hadn't competed in a while because his was spending time raising his children. I must admit he jumped in at the deep end deciding to compete in the derby but he has still been a trainer for the last 20 years.
Just one of those things, you wouldn't do it if you didn't think you stood some sort of chance.. he obviously felt he had the horse right and that he stood a chance of getting round!!
Steven Whitaker was a very good rider, he competed alongside John and Michael in the early days (Bingley Show c1974?) I think he rode Berricote Singing Wind or Black Rose.
Steven competes quite regularly, though not as much as his kids. He jumped in the main classes at Oldcotes and Bramham. Years ago he produced a good horse called Lawyer.
You do scribbles, he qualified like everyone else. Steven said that in the qualifier you jumped the jumps he refused at the opposite way, and the horse didn't even look at them!
he was only riding that horse because one of his sons asked him to as it wasn't doing very well for them.
also some other riders had been joking about not seeing steven ride