28 May 2009 Pilots In Profile - Rachael Green
by Carolyn Tanner
RACHAEL GREEN: winning on Rye Brook at Cotley
photo: Tim Holt
Rachael Green is one of the country's top lady riders. She was national champion in 2006, and at the start of the current campaign had partnered 108 winners between the flags. To date she has also had 14 successes under Rules.
Before going into racing, she spent two seasons as an apprentice with international event riders Sam and Dag Albert, competing on her own horse up to Intermediate level, which she says taught her a great deal and was definitely a good grounding to have before branching out into racing.
DATE OF BIRTH: 23rd July 1983
MARITAL STATUS: I have been with Anthony Honeyball for approximately eight years. We met at Cheltenham, and with the help of a few friends ended up going out to dinner!
PROFESSION: I am currently head girl for Richard Barber, and have been for a couple of seasons. I originally worked in the yard for three seasons before that.
I first got involved in racing by going to Robert Alner's, local to my family home, in my school holidays, and went back for a few seasons after I left school. It was great fun and I totally blame them for infecting me with the racing bug!
I have to thank Anthony and his sister Teresa (head girl to Richard Barber at the time), who managed to get me a ride on Rimpton Boy when Polly Gundry was not available. He won, Richard offered me a job, and here I am now!
ARE YOU FROM A RACING BACKGROUND? Not really, although mother used to work with a couple of trainers and rode in a few Point-to-Points before she married. Father is a dairy farmer. Both enjoy going racing, whether it is Pointing or National Hunt, where they own a couple of horses in training with Anthony
WHO HAS BEEN MOST INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR CAREER? Without a doubt mum and dad. I had fantastic ponies, all of which were excellent jumpers and brilliant hunters. They were not top class eventing ponies but good all-rounders who filled me with bags of confidence.
Of course, I would never have won the championship if it wasn't for Richard Barber, who has given me some great seasons.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST RIDE YOU HAD IN PUBLIC? It was at Milborne St Andrew in 2000 for my parents, on a mare called Bright Lady. We finished last! She was no superstar, in fact I'm not even sure she was really a schoolmistress! She was a stereotypical 13-year-old chestnut mare who had never previously completed, but she managed to look after me and my brother. We had a couple of placings, but to be fair to her we wouldn't have had her fit enough!
FIRST WINNER - WHEN, FOR WHOM, HORSE, COURSE? It was in 2002 for Anthony's mother Sue on a horse called Ski Seal who won the 8yo&over Maiden at Ston Easton. Next time he proceeded to unseat me and he broke his pedal bone - a slight contrast! After that I went on to win the Ladies' at Littlewindsor on Red Brook Lad, which was a great ride to have.
WHO ARE THE MAIN TRAINERS THAT YOU RIDE FOR? It's all up in the air at present, but up until now I have ridden mainly for Richard Barber, Stewart and Monique Pike, and Anthony, who has contributed the majority of my winners under Rules.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED? Manor Farm, Seaborough, where Richard trains. Anthony rents 20 boxes from him so we live in a flat on the yard.
WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE? A Citreon Xsara. It's not my ideal car but it's been very reliable, and as Anthony sold it to me I managed to get it at a very reasonable price! I have to say that when I get the choice I tend to drive his VW Passat!
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT NIGHT IN & PERFECT NIGHT OUT: Out would have to be a ball - I love sitting down with friends, meeting new faces and generally having a really good time, which normally involves a few gin and tonics and a lively band or DJ
As for a night in, I am going to say having a dinner party, preferably with a cook! I am terrible at keeping in contact with my friends during the season, so to have everyone round to catch up without having far to crawl to bed sounds great.
IF YOU WERE SUSPENDED - WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOURSELF? Unfortunately in the real world I would have to work, as Richard employs me, but if I had the chance to go abroad I would fly to Dubai and relax.
WHO WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT TRAVELLING COMPANIONS TO THE RACES? Normally I would use this time to catch up on some sleep, so anyone who would drive me for free and doesn't want a riveting conversation would fill my criteria. Or if I was feeling constructive, the Prime Minister so I could have a discussion about a few issues!
WHAT'S CURRENTLY ON YOUR iPOD? At the risk of damaging my street credibility, Rihanna gets played an awful lot, as do Phil Collins (he's just a legend) and Coldplay - Chris Martin is so talented I would really appreciate seeing him perform live.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST HEROES - IN AND OUT OF RACING? Dave Roberts, the jockeys' agent - he is such a workaholic. I just think he is unbelievable - his brain must be constantly doing overtime. I have to say I am totally in awe of him.
WHAT TURNS YOU ON/OFF - IN RACING & LIFE IN GENERAL? That's easy - bad jumpers turn me off! I only have to have one bad schooling session and I'm in a mood for the rest of the day.
My inability not to let things get to me is also one of my many faults. I wish I could just sweep things under the carpet. I'm working on it!!
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST INCIDENT AT THE RACES? It's only funny because everyone came back in one piece, but a couple of male jockeys independently got run away with to the start, but with the help of a hedge they both managed to pull up. The remainder of the field was circling at the start when the other two horses still had a field to cross before they reached the tapes. In this field they set off again, only to end up taking one another on and passing all of us at the start going flat out upsides. Five minutes later they were going flat out in the opposite direction. It tickled me, if not the two on board!
WHAT PARTICULAR HORSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE? Any horse in the lead over the line at the Cheltenham Festival.
IF YOU HADN'T TAKEN UP RIDING - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? I often ask myself this question, with no answer. I would possibly have trained to be a veterinary nurse.
WHAT IS THE DAFTEST THING A FELLOW RIDER, AN OWNER, OR TRAINER, HAS EVER SAID TO YOU? "Sit mid-div and slow the pace". I won't name and shame!
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BEST AND WORST RIDES YOU HAVE GIVEN A HORSE? The best was on Barneys Mate at Worcester last summer, when we beat McCoy half-a-length in a finish.
As for bad rides, there are far too many to choose from. I'm sure if you ask any punter they can name a few.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS IN YOUR RIDING CAREER? Falling on Patches in the 2007 Foxhunters'. At the time I knew this was the best ever chance I would get to ride a winner at Cheltenham.
WHAT AMBITION DO YOU HAVE IN RACING? Pass! I'm not even sure what my ambitions are any more, but mainly concentrating on riding every horse to the best of my ability, and obviously helping Anthony to have a very successful career as a trainer.
