Alec Forbes
KZN jockey Alec Forbes rode a career best 5 wins on a card at Greyville on Saturday, 15 November 2014. The Sporting Post rang up to wish him well and get to know him a little better and found him to be a focussed, thoughtful, and modest jockey who is quietly thrilled by the achievement, but finds it all part of a day’s work.
Saturday
“When the card came out, I thought I’d win on Gemini Gold and thought I had a really good chance on Alistair’s horse in the last (Blizzard Belle). In race 5 I had Red Rover, which I thought might have a chance, but I wasn’t all that confident. When they moved racing to Saturday, a few of the jocks stayed in Joburg and I picked up 3 other rides.”
“I won race 2 on Gemini Gold and race 5 on Red Rover. Then Cherry Tripper came in for Dennis Bosch in race 6. At this stage I knew I still had a chance in the last and thought getting a 4-timer was a distinct possibility. Then Wendy’s horse won race 7 and I still had a good one in the last. Everyone started saying the last race was a foregone conclusion and that I was unstoppable. It was a great feeling. We’re all mates in the jockey room, but out on the track it’s very competitive. When you’re doing well like that, the guys are very supportive and it really means a lot.”
Blizzard Belle makes it 5 wins!
“Passing the line in the last was such a fantastic feeling. It was just, wow. I’ve never had 5 on a day before and it’s definitely one of the highlights of my career. I’ve never received so many well wishes, phone calls and SMS’s from people all across the racing community as I did on Saturday. Not even with my Grade Ones. It was incredible.”
Feeling positive
On Monday it was business as usual and Alec spoke to us after finishing his strings for the day. “Being a jockey is not just a job, it’s a complete way of life. It’s not like going to the office and coming home at the end of the day. You have to stay fit and watch what you eat, you’re always phoning and talking to people all the time. I don’t find it difficult getting up early – I really enjoy going to work in the morning. Many people would kill for our jobs in that sense. We’re always outside, we always see the sun coming up, there are many plusses. And we get to ride horses. For many, that’s the ultimate. It’s what I really enjoy doing. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. Today is just another day, but at the same time I’m also a lot more positive and hopeful.”
What’s next?
“I don’t actually know. Hopefully I keep it rolling. My agent phoned this morning and there are lots of people ringing trying to book me for rides. Our next meeting is Friday, so I’ll wait for declarations to see what rides I have. I’m on a high at the moment and these things tend to fuel themselves. People want to be with you when you’re doing well. I was at a shopping centre on Sunday when a guy came up to me. He said he’s a big race goer and that he follows me quite a bit. He said that once I’d won the 4th race, he put all his money on me in the last. It wasn’t about the horse or the odds, he just thought I was a roll and he put all his money on me,” he says thoughtfully.
“At the moment, I’m Alistair Gordon’s stable jockey. I also ride for my wife Lezeanne Forbes, who has been training for about a year now, and then anywhere and everywhere after that. Even if I’m riding a 100-1 shot, I’d rather be out there riding than sitting in the jocks room. It doesn’t always do great things for my stats, but I prefer to be racing. It’s what I do, it’s my job.”
