A grandfather-of-three has embarked on a punishing fitness regime so he can ride in a historic horse race.
Colin Moore, 80, is training six days a week to prepare for the Newmarket Town Plate.
Inaugurated by King Charles II in 1666, the sole monarch to win the contest, 14 amateur riders will take part in Saturday's renewal. Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds – and Moore will be up against a vet, farrier and building surveyor in the line-up.
Giving himself just one day off working out per week, the pensioner has been riding racehorses up the gallops, going on bike rides and doing some weight training.
He will be aboard his own horse, Ballyrath, on the day – a chaser who won at odds of 66-1 on his first start for trainer Gary Hanmer in January.
Moore said: "I’ve been riding up to six lots (of horses) a day and in that heat a few weeks ago it was a bit of a killer. Apart from riding I have an exercise bike and I go out on the road bike as well while I do a little of bit of weight training as well.
“Everything has been going well on the bike except for when I went out on the road bike about the other weekend.
“There is one big hill I go up, I got round that, then I got into the next village a mile and a half from home then I got a puncture so I had to walk back with it!”
Moore says he has always been into fitness, but is prepared to go the extra mile for his comeback and he may even consider entering the race again in 2023.
"I do think I’m a bit of a freak that I can still do this but although I packed up race riding I never really stopped as I’ve always been riding out somewhere even when I went into the reinforced concrete business after racing," he said.
“I do sometimes think why am I doing it because of my age but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel right."
The race, run over a shorter distance of 2m 1f this year, due to watering restrictions, will be run in memory of former trainer Julie Cecil. Former jockey Moore rode his sole winner over jumps aboard 50-1 shot Son Of Tam at Worcester in November 1961.
His extra special reason for putting himself through the strict regime is little grandson Ralph, who is just a few months old. Moore hopes to raise £500 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where staff treated the youngster for a heart problem and infection, as well as some cash for the Injured Jockeys' Fund.
“They (parents Alex and Sam) stayed in there for a few days as he was quite serious with his condition as he was on a ventilator in intensive care," he said.
"Thankfully he now he is fine and he will be there on Saturday which is great. The team there did a great job and I just felt like I wanted to help them and hopefully I can raise a few pounds doing this. His ordeal has definitely helped act as an inspiration for doing this year’s race.
“He is now six months old and he is a big bonny lad now so I don’t think he will be a jockey but it will be nice for him to carry the name on.”
