Just jockeying

Au00a0new Animal Planet docu-drama series takes a look at the unsung heroes of the racecourse, and their untold tales. As a curtain raiser, professional jockey Aaron Gryder gives a first hand account of his moments on the track and off it

Riding a horse isn't 'marely' another job; it's an adventure and discovery every single day of the deed. Even as the steed breed steals all the limelight on the racecourse, tireless jockeys put everything at stake for the race. Why? Rider Aaron Gryder explains.

Does the fear of accidental death scare you?
The deal is indeed dangerous, because it can kill. I very well know that my next race could be the last race of my life, but the joy, satisfaction and confidence that a ride on the back of the world's best horse gives, eliminate the fear.

Is it the money that keeps you going?
No doubt, the rewards are robust, but the real flavour of racing is the self-satisfaction and kick it gives you.

What if your career ends abruptly?u00a0
I will start working as a TV sports commentator.

Did you undergo any professionalu00a0 training?
I had never sat on a horse till the age ofu00a0 13. It was then that I was trained by a retired jockey. Once, he told me that I had the knack for riding. But only I know that it was the fear of falling that kept me on that horse.u00a0
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What's on your mind while riding?
Emotions keep switching. There is excitement, nervousness, anxiety, pride of winning and disappointment of loss. No profession can duplicate such an excessive emotional shift.

Does your family complain?
I have never asked them that. But I never give them the chance to complain because I don't carry the 'rider' back home. The moment I get in my car, I know I'm driving home to see my family, play with my kids and just be a 'better father'.u00a0

Since jockeys need to maintain an assigned weight, what fitness plan do you follow?
I workout at the gym, run up the mountains and do pilates or yoga. Plus, I have professional nutritionists, personal trainers and other dedicated health consultants who help me maintain the required stats and make sure I stick to healthy habits.

Jock talk
The first-ever reality series on jockeys will give an insider's view of the cutthroat competition and private lives of professional jockeys and their magnificent horses. The 12-part series will present the lives and careers of seven jockeys and their 1,200-pound horses.u00a0 "We will showcase the never-seen-before lives of these fascinating sportsmen, both on and off racetrack. The series truly captures the range of emotions of jockeys who risk their lives, all for the love of the sport of horse racing," says Rahul Johri, senior vice-president and general manager-India, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

When: Jockeys, premiering tomorrow, August 11, and to be telecast every Tuesday at 10 pm
Where: On Animal Planet