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Leading Jockey, Yap Drepaul, looking for more glory and the big break
Yap ‘Old Boy’ Drepaul has been in top form throughout the year and is most likely to be named top jockey when executives of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and reps of the various race clubs convene to name the individual for that prestigious accolade soon.
A resident of Alness Village Corentyne Berbice, Drepaul, has chalked up eight champion jockey titles despite a slow start to the season. The prolific rider really got into stride around mid year and ever since has been a force to be reckoned with; earning the Champion jockey status in all of his last three races.
The young jockey has been in the saddle for over 15 years, and is thankful for the tutelage received from the eminent horse race magnate, Senior Council Marcel Crawford.
Top Jockey Yap Drepaul
Despite his astronomical rise to the top of his game, it has not been all smooth sailing for Yap as his career was dogged by numerous falls and a broken collarbone sustained after a fall in one of his races. At the time he was riding, another jockey fell and subsequently lost his life.
The master rider has competed at all of the current race tracks across Guyana and had nurtured ambitions of a similar feat on the once famous Durban Park Race course in Georgetown. However, that venue has since been overtaken by bushes and is no longer used for such purposes.
Asked to comment on his unenviable status, Drepaul said that his standing is not due to luck but years of experience coupled with class and skills. This view was strongly exemplified when it was noted that Drepaul straddles animals from almost all of the stables instead of one particular horse. Despite the changes, most times he emerges victorious as was evident earlier in the year when he carted off the feature events on three successive occasions and at three different race tracks.
He could not attest to views that he is currently in great demand but admits that he knows how to win. ”Admittedly, luck is an important variable in crossing the finish line first but nonetheless the jockey must acquire reasonable skill and endurance,” he advocated.
Drepaul admitted that he has certain secrets that give him the edge but declined to divulge these secrets. Rather, he hinted that the journey to the top is fraught with challenges.
Ironically, Drepaul engages in swimming, skipping and other exercises in preparation for the saddle.
He relishes crossing the finishing line ahead of the competition especially against all odds. One of his grouses is that jockeys receive meager pay for their efforts, unlike conventional thinking.
The soft spoken, easy going jockey hopes to clinch a big deal or an overseas assignment which would be compensatory for his years of sacrifice.
“I had such an offer before, for a Barbados meet but those plans were aborted,” he revealed. He is adamant that he is just as, or even better than his international counterparts but fails to procure the opportunity.”
He is currently unemployed but plans to continue riding if only to attain his lifelong goal of becoming the top rider to have come from Guyana. ”Such aspirations are certainly within my reach,” the champion jockey advocates. (Samuel Whyte)
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