In a wide-ranging chat with BOYLE Sports , Tom Bellamy opened up on the uglier side of life as a jockey in the social media age.
Bellamy has hit out at online abuse and death threats, laughed off his mum's viral Cheltenham interview, and set out his aims after a career-best season.
The jockey has also named the riders he most admires and built his perfect horse from the stars he has sat on.
The Online Game
Is There a Criticism of Jockeys Online That Tells You Someone Knows Nothing About Racing?
I'm not one to get too flustered over it, but I know people who do. I've seen lads in the weighing room searching their own names to see what was said.
I just block people who send direct messages. I replied to one guy the other day who asked why I didn't kick on with a horse. Because he hadn't wished for my family to die or cancer on me, I explained why I did what I did, and we actually had a conversation.
I'm open to criticism, but death threats and wishing things on you- those people are just scum of the earth. They probably only had £2.50 on!
Have You Forgiven Your Mum for Her Viral Interview After White Noise's Festival Win?
I was in the next race, so I was rushing to get changed. Jonjo O'Neill Jr. came up to me and said, " Have you seen this? It said jockey's mum roasts him live on TV.
We watched it and burst out laughing, carried on with the day, and by the time I got back off my next horse, my phone had gone absolutely mental. I went down to the owner and trainers' bar where she was having a celebratory drink and acted all serious, saying, " What have you done? I thought she was going to start crying, so I stopped straight away.
The week after was highly interesting; there were some interesting offers. She enjoyed the fame more than I did.
Looking Ahead
After 67 Winners Last Season, How High Do You Set Your Aims Now?
From a personal perspective, it was massive because it's my personal best, but there are plenty of other jockeys who have ridden a lot more. I've broken my own record, but I haven't broken any other records.
The more winners you ride and the more trainers you ride for, the better it is and the more your name's out there. If you set targets and numbers, I've already missed ten weeks, so I could be sitting here thinking I'm not going to get there.
I just try to do the best I can every day and keep the people I ride for happy. My pet hate is leaving races out there that I should have won; that drives me mad more than anything. If nothing went wrong and the horse just didn't win, I can accept that, but if I did something to make the horse lose, that would bug me.
Name One Jockey You'd Love to Ask for Pointers.
When I was sixteen, I rode a horse AP McCoy had ridden before. I asked him about it in the weighing room, and he sat down and talked me through it. I was in awe; he took time out of his day for me. I also love seeing Ruby Walsh on TV.
His knowledge is exceptional; he'll come up with things that have never crossed my mind before. It's not good when he assassinates you, but I'm open to it because he knows what he's on about, and you probably deserved it. He watches it live and goes straight into instant analysis.
The Perfect Horse
Build Your Perfect Horse From Horses You've Ridden.
For speed, The Kemble Brewery . He's very fast; it doesn't mean he's the best horse, but he's got speed up the gallop. For stamina, Bristol De Mai . I never rode him in a race, but I used to ride him out at home; he was a slogger, and when the ground was soft he would just keep going at the same speed whether it was three miles or ten miles.
For determination, Sceau Royal . Daryl Jacob rode him, but I rode him a few times at home; he'd kill you in the box and try to bite you when you put his saddle on. He was evil, really, but he'd die for you on the track. And for jumping, Ziga Boy . He was my first big winner, in the Great Yorkshire Chase , an absolute joy; you could shut your eyes and let him do the job.
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