From Midleton, Co Cork, jockey Paul Townend, 33, won the Boodles Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, with Irish-owned horse Galopin des Champs – his fourth Gold Cup win and 32nd Cheltenham win. Townend is set to defend last year’s win at Punchestown in the Boodles Champion Hurdle, on May 3. He lives in Co Kilkenny with his girlfriend Sophie and three Shetland ponies.
Interview by Sarah Caden.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO WIN THE GOLD CUP AT CHELTENHAM FOR THE FOURTH TIME? Winning the Boodles Gold Cup this year, on its 100th anniversary, was a privilege and an honor. It feels surreal. If someone had offered me four Cheltenham Festival winners when I was starting out, I would have bitten their hand off, never mind four Gold Cups! I’m not sure I even realised the magnitude of the Gold Cup until I was fortunate to win it the first time in 2019. Then I wondered whether it would be as good if I was lucky enough to win it a second time, and, to my surprise, it was even better! The same happened for the third win.
WERE HORSES PART OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP? I grew up on a farm in East Cork, and there were always horses around the place. I had an affinity with them and I never really thought of doing anything than being a jockey. Growing up, I saw jockeys like other kids see football players. They were like superheroes to me. I am very fortunate to be living out my childhood dream and that my parents supported it 100 per cent.
YOU LOST YOUR MOTHER WHEN YOU WERE 15. LOOKING BACK, DO YOU SEE THE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? I moved out of home to start working within the year of her passing and maybe I put everything into that. My mother was mad into racing and many a row we had when I wanted to go pony racing before I was old enough, but right up to the end she was very supportive of me. The work kept her passing off my mind, but it also spurred me on to succeed.
WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND DID YOU LIKE IT? I went to primary school in a lovely, small country school in the village of Lisgoold. Once I got to secondary at CBS in Midleton, I got into the pony racing a bit more and started earning a few quid and that took over. The barter system at home meant I wasn’t allowed out to the horses until I’d done my homework.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START? After Junior Cert, I took Transition Year out. My first cousin David Condon was a jockey in Willie Mullins’ yard at the time, and he took me under his wing, and I never returned to school.
WHAT WAS YOUR BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT? Indian Pace winning the Galway Hurdle at the Galway Festival in the summer of 2008. I had only ridden three previous winners over jumps and John Kiely entrusted me with the ride on a very well-backed favourite in one of the biggest, most competitive races in the racing year. I thought the game was easy then – it’s not!
YOU’VE BEEN WITH TRAINER WILLIE MULLINS SINCE YOU WERE AN APPRENTICE. HAS THAT STABILITY HELPED YOUR CAREER? I’ve only ever had one job, so it’s all I know, other than a bit of time spent in the UK. The beauty of it is that we’ve built up a relationship, and Willie knows that if my decision has cost the race, then I made that decision for the right reason at the time. There’s a lot of trust and a lot of loyalty there.
IS A JOCKEY’S LIFE TOUGH? It is, mentally and physically. We get a month off in June now, but we used to work twelve months of the year. It’s really three weeks off, because we usually race in Paris the first week of June. The first week, your mind is still in the sport. Then you just crash and sleep. In the last week, you’re the worst company again, because you’re getting bored and antsy. Jockeys are probably not the best company, any time of the year.
“Jockeys are way better supported and are treating themselves more as athletes than ever before: there’s a lot more mental and physical preparation … ”
YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE THIN LINE BETWEEN A “BRILLIANT RIDE AND A TERRIBLE RIDE” – DOES THAT KEEP YOU GROUNDED? Racing is a sport where you lose a lot more than you win, so that will keep anyone grounded. One minute you’re a hero, the next you’re brought straight back to earth.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A SETBACK? I’ve put a bit of work into trying to deal with it and I’m getting better at it. I try to analyse, learn and move on. I’m fortunate, that after a loss, I’ll be going out for another race 20 minutes later with a good chance of winning, so I can right the wrongs quicker than most sportspeople.
DOES FEAR OF INJURY STALK A JOCKEY? Injuries come with the territory. I’d say 90 per cent of the season, you’re carrying some bit of a knock, a bang here, a bruise there. I’ve broken a lot of bones; it’s part of the game. Sometimes it’s only when you take a break that you let the aches and pains kick in: you’re on a sun lounger wondering why you’re too sore to get up off it.
IS MENTAL HEALTH BETTER SUPPORTED IN YOUR SPORT NOW, COMPARED WITH THE PAST? Jockeys are way better supported and are treating themselves more as athletes than ever before. There’s a lot more mental and physical preparation going into it. RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) in Kildare have set up a big support system for us with physios and nutritionists and all that, so riding is now going in the right direction.
I’D LIKE PEOPLE TO REGARD ME AS … Humble, genuine, private, normal.
MY FRIENDSHIPS ARE FOR THE MOST PART … Supportive, understanding and close-knit. Most of my friends are jockeys or something to do with racing. If we go out in a group, we’ll go with the intention of not talking about racing, but 20 minutes in, we’re back talking about racing.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU DO THAT KEEP YOU SANE? I like my downtime. I like to relax and watch a movie or just chill out in the house. I like to play golf, but I am not sure that keeps me sane.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE FEATURE? I’m definitely not vain enough to answer this.
MY STYLE SIGNIFIER IS … A nice watch and I have been lucky enough to have been gifted some very nice ones.
I BUY MY CLOTHES WHEN … I am bored. I should never have been introduced to online shopping.
DO YOU USE SKINCARE PRODUCTS? Yes, but only recently. I wear SPF daily and I use a combination of The Ordinary vitamin C, salicylic acid, and a moisturiser.
I RECENTLY READ … Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey
I RECENTLY LISTENED TO … Andre Agassi’s autobiography, Open.
YOU ARE ONLY A YOUNG MAN, BUT DO YOU THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT? I am 33 now, so hopefully I have a good number of years left yet. But I do realise it won’t go on forever. Only ten years ago, jockeys wouldn’t ride beyond their mid-30s, but now 40 is a realistic target. Beyond that, it’s hard. It takes a bit longer to get up from a fall, or you’re waking up a bit sore in the morning. Your body probably stops you before you want to stop yourself.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY? Something within the racing industry, I would imagine. It’s all I know, to be honest. Like everyone else in this business, I’m in denial that it will ever end.