A ‘warm’ return for Mitchell
The unassuming yet competent jockey of 20 years, Richard “Byah” Mitchell, is back in Jamaica for a short break from his riding duties at Gulfstream Park in Florida, United States, to be with family, friends and importantly to get some warmth.
The Complete Racing Guide caught with him during a break while exercising horses at Caymanas Park on Wednesday morning and quizzed him on his stay and he was quite candid in his response.
“Well, I am riding at Gulfstream Park and have won a couple of races but it was getting a little chilly up there, so I decided to come out here and take two months off until the weather gets warmer. Then I will return,” Mitchell told the Complete Racing Guide.
Mitchell, who moved to Gulfstream Park in March of last year, said that he had a completely different and engaging experience riding there from other racetracks.
“They deal with horses much differently than we do in Jamaica. At times when the horse become unruly, they make them tranquil, but they still put the jockeys up to get in the exercise gallop.
“The jockeys too are very helpful. They are very cooperative and respect is a fine quality you will find among them. I must add once again that they are extremely helpful. They speak Spanish, but there are no mistakes about their intentions,” he said.
He added: “To tell the truth, I got several rides, but because I wanted to leave they were forfeited. However, I told them that I will come back in March and they understood why I was taking the break.”
At present, Mitchell is a fit and rugged specimen weighing a compact 115 lbs and revealed that: “While I am here for the short period, I will continue to keep fit and exercise horses regularly as there are some good rides that I will receive on my return, which means that I will have to retain maximum fitness to meet the demand”.
The 44-year-old rider, who has been riding since he was 14, presents a very healthy look about him that forced one trainer to remark: “This is how our riders should look, and if he is available I will surely engage his services.”
