Dylan Parrott will be the newest face in the NSW picnic jockey ranks when he debuts at Mungery on Sunday.
The 20-year-old, based in Wollongong as a trackwork rider with the Robert and Luke Price team, flew through his trials.
Still, it will be the real deal on Sunday as he travels six hours to team up with Dubbo trainer Terry Fahey and Cobar trainer Allan Prisk, taking four rides at the famous Western Racing Association meeting.
“The nerves are there, but it’s exciting,” Parrott told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“I’ve got no pressure on myself, and I’ll just go out there and have some fun.”
The Wilton product, who doesn’t come from a racing family, has been learning his craft for more than two years, and he said the chance to ride at the picnics would be a dream come true.
“This is my third year doing trackwork, and before that, I hadn’t really ridden much,” Parrott said.
“I did a little bit here and there when I was 10 to 12 years of age, but other than that, nothing else”.
“I always wanted to be a jockey since I knew what horse racing was, but I honestly could not tell you what made me want to be a jockey.
“No one in the family has had anything to do with racing; we owned a few here and there, but that’s about it.
“Just one day, I went to the races with Dad and fell in love with it.”
Another product of the Thoroughbred Industry Careers program, Parrott was placed with the Price team when he first started, and he’s never looked back.
“I jumped straight in out of school,” Parrott said.
“I went through the Thoroughbred Industry Careers program, and during that, I got based with Robert and Luke Price and never left.
“With Luke being an ex-jockey himself, he pretty much taught me everything I know, and I’m grateful for that.”
Parrott, who initially wanted to become a professional, has been hindered by his height, with the Wollongong hoop standing over six feet tall and weighing 61kg.
“I was attracted to the idea of being a jockey, but my height and weight became an issue, and that’s why I went down the path of becoming an amateur jockey,” Parrott said.
“It would be great to become a professional, but I’d be dreaming if that were to happen.
“I struggle to stay at 61kg, so for now, I’ll ride at the picnics and see what happens.”
It could be a blessing in disguise thing for the NSW picnic jockey stocks, which can be a little light on at times, as Parrott is keen to ride ‘everywhere and anywhere’.
“I plan to attend as many meetings as possible,” Parrott said.
“If they are on every weekend, I’ll be there if given the opportunity.”
Parrott, debuting at Mungery, is set to add another element to the popular program.
There will be fashions on the field, entertainment on the day, and a calcutta at Mungery Hall from 6 p.m. on Friday night.
For more on the day, click here.
For fields, click here.
