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For many young riders, a first spin on the track is about gaining experience and getting round safely. For Katherine Sprake, it turned into something even more memorable, as she partnered ‘Whydah Gally’ to victory on her debut at Maisemore.
Introduced to racing at a young age, Sprake followed a familiar grassroots pathway into the sport. Starting out in pony racing at just nine years old, she spent several seasons developing her skills before making the transition into point to pointing. “I started pony racing when I was nine and carried on until I was about 15,” she explains. “It definitely gave me a good grounding, but it is very different when you suddenly have fences in front of you.”
Her partner for that all important first ride came in the form of Whydah Gally, a horse she has now had for just over a year. The gelding was sourced from the yard where she works, with family playing a key role in bringing the partnership together. “My cousin persuaded me to get him and said he would be a nice, safe pointer for my first season. They helped me a lot with getting him, which made a big difference.”
Preparation for the run did not follow a straightforward path. Originally pencilled in for an earlier outing, plans were delayed, and for a time it looked as though the season might pass without a run. However, with the horse coming right at the right time, Maisemore became the chosen stage. The track proved an ideal introduction. “It was a lovely galloping track, nice and flat. The bends were quite tight, but the fences were brilliant and he just jumped through them.”
Sprake said that going into the race the plan was just to have a nice outing and get round – however things changed during the race, “As we came round to jump the second last, I knew we had a chance. I thought I would give it a go and he just got up on the line.” It was a very tight finish which a majority of people were left scratching their heads wondering what the final result was “I didn’t even realise I had won at first. I was just so happy with my horse and that we had got round safely. He gave me such a good feeling and really enjoyed himself.”
The result marked a perfect start and a 100 percent strike rate, but Sprake is firmly focused on what comes next. With ambitions to take out an amateur dual licence and eventually progress further, she is keen to continue building experience. “I would like to get my amateur licence so I can ride on the flat and over jumps. I will keep pointing for another season or so and hopefully ride in some amateur races. Long term, I would love to go professional, but it is about gaining experience first.”
Racing is very much in the family. With relatives including an uncle who was a former jockey and her brother Charlie providing inspiration, the sport has always been close to home. “I used to watch my brother ride and think that is what I want to do. We have always had racehorses and pointers around us.”
Being a jockey is not just getting on a horse and racing around a field there is a lot of work behind the scenes – regular jockey coaching is pivotal in keeping jockeys fit and help improve their technique. “I go to coaching every week and that has helped me a lot. It is really good to keep learning and improving.” Many would say that the only way to get race fit is to actually ride in races so for a first ride having a horse with experience on his side really helps. “He has come out of the race well, but he prefers softer ground. If we get some rain, I would run him again. If not, we will look ahead to next season.”
Looking further ahead, there are hopes to expand her opportunities in the saddle, “I would like to get another pointer so I have more chances to ride and hopefully pick up a few rides along the way.”
For those watching from the other side of the rail and thinking about getting involved her advice to people is, “Work hard and keep going. If you put your mind to it, you can do it.”
A winning debut is something many riders dream of and for Spake, it is just the beginning. When speaking to her mother Sarah it was made clear how special this win was to the family and Katherine herself. “He jumped so well and pulled himself to the front, Katherine has been dreaming of this day for a long time and to win on her first ride was extra special”.
