Grady Spokes was born and bred to be a jockey, but oddly enough, genetics got in the way of him becoming a professional.
The 19-year-old Coffs Harbour product walks around at 67kg but still rides track work for Paul Smith, Donna Grisedale and Brett Bellamy.
“I ride trackwork Monday to Saturday and 10-plus horses a morning,” Spokes said.
“I love trackwork. It’s a good weekly wage, and it means I get to be working in the racing industry.”
The son of popular Northern Rivers jockey Raymond Spokes, Grady still dreamed of riding at the races.
While he would never be light enough to take up an apprenticeship, the youngster took out an approved rider’s licence, meaning he could race at the picnics.
“The dream was always to be a professional jockey, but always doing other sports as a young kid; I kind of grew up and got a bit too big,” Spokes said.
“I just always wanted to ride in a race, and the next best thing was riding at the picnics, and I was light enough, so I thought I’d give it a crack.”
Spokes travelled to Moree late last month, taking just one ride for Greg Smith, and on debut, he finished fifth on Archregency in the 1600m Class Two Handicap.
A week later, he had four rides at Coonamble, and he was soon enough in the winner’s circle, this time guiding the Karen McCarroll-trained Gunnerside to victory in the 1100m Class B Handicap.
“I didn’t know what to think; I was a little bit tired, so it didn’t really hit me until after the race,” Spokes said.
“I knew I gave it a good ride, and I had to lose 4kg to make the weight and for the three-kilo claim.
“That probably made the difference in the end because we only won by half a length.
“It was a big thrill and something I wanted to achieve since I was a little kid.”
Spokes is still determining how long he will be riding, but for now, he’s enjoying the challenge and will put his hand up for rides all over the state.
“Riding and winning a race was something I set out to achieve, and now I’ve done that, it just depends on how I go and if I keep getting rides,” Spokes said.
“My weight is all right, and it does come off easily, so that’s not an issue.
“I’ll keep going at the picnics until I decide to do something else, and if I can get enough rides, I’ll travel to any meeting.”
Spokes ventures to Mallawa on Saturday for the second leg of the Golden Triangle, and he will take three rides on the day.
He jumps aboard the Bryan Dixon Jnr-trained Redline 1000m Class Two Handicap and two for Moree trainer Peter Sinclair, including The Defiant One in the 1200m Class Three Handicap and Flybridge in the Mallawa Picnic Cup (1400m),
“The Defiant One should be winning; he ran third at Coonamble for Ricky Blewitt, and I take three (kilos) of its back,” Spokes said.
“I’m also on Flybridge in the Mallawa Cup, and if it handles the dirt, it has to be a chance.”
As always, it’s a big day at Mallawa, and for more on the meeting, click here.
For Mallawa fields, click here.
