| Amateur Jockey Jaclyn Jamieson (25) is one of only two Scots who will compete in the John Smith People’s Race, having reached the final 10 last month. The other is Johnny Ferguson from Argyll, who is being prepared for his big race by Glenfarg trainer Alan Normile.
Fitness instructor Jaclyn, who works at the Hilton Hotel’s gym, entered the competition last year in a bid to raise cash for Guide Dogs for the Blind, with £50,000 up for grabs.
She and Johnny beat off competition from thousands of applicants to become two of the 32 riders who attended a number of gruelling assessment weekends in Doncaster to reach the final stages. Then 14 riders were selected for yet more intensive training weekends.
Jaclyn has been perfecting her skills at the Milnathort yard of trainer Lucinda Russell four times a week.
So far, she has gained £5000 for reaching the final 10 and there is a prize of £50,000 for the winning jockey’s chosen charity. The winner of the 9-furlong flat race will also get a five-star trip for two to Dubai for racing’s 2009 World Cup.
On Saturday, she will ride Summer Soul, a six-year-old racehorse owned by Perth-based syndicate Tay Valley Chasers Racing Club.
“I’m so grateful to the club for letting me use their racehorse,” Jaclyn said. “I’d also like to thank all the girls at the yard and the jockeys and, of course, Lucinda.
“I travel down to Aintree early tomorrow and then I go to Ladies’ Day. I’m very excited and this will help me get a feel for the place — hopefully it will calm a few nerves.”
Jaclyn also praised the support she has received from her husband Gary, and the help of her mother Evelyn and mother-in-law Margaret, who looked after their two daughters, Abby (4) and Lene (2) while she trained.
Her family and friends will travel down to watch her race.
Meanwhile, Johnny (40), a shepherd from Bridge of Orchy in Argyll and Bute has been putting in the hours in Glenfarg.
Alan Normile is confident of Johnny’s chances, “He’s been very good and has taken on board everything we’ve thrown at him. I think he’s got a great chance.”
Johnny will be riding one of Alan’s own horses, Pendragon, which he believes will be well suited to the course and distance.
Alan explained, “The horse hasn’t won yet but has been placed a few times. It’s only a mile-and-a-quarter race so we were looking for a horse with pace rather than stamina.”
After he had ridden Pendragon for the last time before race day, Johnny admitted to feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
He said, “The nerves haven’t kicked in yet but I’m sure they will on the day when 70,000 people are watching me! I’m taking my daughter and my dad down and we’re all really looking forward to it.”
Johnny has spent around 20 days at the Glenfarg stables, riding different horses, and described it as a “great experience”.
On his chances of finishing first, he observed, “There are a lot of good horses with top trainers, but I’ll give it my best shot.”
Johnny’s chosen charity is an organisation which protects horses.
The People’s Race is the first on the Aintree card on Saturday. |
