Local jockey wins top award

Former jockey, Derrick Morris, from Horsham has won one of the racing industry's most prestigious career development awards, and was presented with his prize at Cheltenham Racecourse recently. The Griffins Richard Davis Awards are made by the Newbury-based Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS) to the jockeys who are judged to have shown the most effort, initiative and forethought in developing a second career after race riding. Derrick takes home the Richard Davis Special R

The Griffins Richard Davis Awards are made by the Newbury-based Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS) to the jockeys who are judged to have shown the most effort, initiative and forethought in developing a second career after race riding. Derrick takes home the Richard Davis Special Recognition Award worth 1000.

JETS is a non-profit making scheme financed by jockeys' prize money deductions and co-funded by the racing charity, The Injured Jockeys Fund. Since it was established in 1995, JETS has helped well over 600 current and former jockeys with career advice, training in new skills and gaining employment after race-riding.

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Derrick (43) rode as a jump jockey from 1982-98 riding 123 winners over the period for many trainers including Trevor Hallett and Roger Curtis. Having first taken out a trainer's licence, ill health forced him to give this up but he went on to acquire qualifications in a range of skills from finance to groundsmanship, before settling into his current role as a Stable Inspecting Officer for The Horseracing Regulatory Authority in the South East.

"I had applied for these Awards once before but felt this could be my year because I am really enjoying my new role and feel that all my training has finally paid off," explained Derrick.

The Special Recognition Award was given by Injured Jockeys Fund Trustee and racehorse owner, Simon Tindall, to Derrick as the applicant who he felt most deserved a special reward for the determination and commitment he has shown to his career development.

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