CHRIS Burgess has been involved in horse racing for nearly 40 years. After starting out as an apprentice jockey, Burgess took on the training of a number of horses, before eventually forming a partnership with partner Jenette. He spoke to ANDREW ROGERS about his long involvement in the industry.
CHRIS Burgess' first taste of horse racing bode well for a long association with the industry.
After taking on an jockey's apprenticeship in 1973, Burgess had his maiden ride -- a winner -- at Donald in the same year.
"I started an apprenticeship with Curly Burns at Tempi in 1973," he said.
"I was with him for three years and started off with my first ride at Donald in '73."
For a 15-year-old just starting out it was all "pretty exciting", Burgess said.
That first horse was Royal Tudor, a gelding that Burgess would go on to ride about 12 winners on.
"He won a lot of local cups around here, including Quambatook, Manangatang and Donald," he said.
Burgess was still an apprentice when he moved to Swan Hill in 1976.
He originally rode for George McCormack for 18 months.
"Then George got a contract in Tehran and they were not accepting apprentice jockeys," Burgess said.
"So I changed to Ducky Smith and had a great association with him for a lot of years."
As well as a fruitful association with the trainer, Burgess enjoyed a strong association with Manaroa, a horse that he had about 14 wins on.
"That was including the Swan Hill Cup when he was a three-year-old," he said.
Manaroa went on to win a group one event in Melbourne, the Toorak Handicap, although Burgess' association with the horse had come to an end.
"When he won the Toorak Handicap I couldn't ride him because of the weight," he said.
Burgess estimated his 20-years as a jockey saw him ride about 800 winners, in a time when meets were less frequent.
"Back then we were only riding once a week," he said.
And for Burgess those races were mostly at country meets.
"They were mainly in the bush รน you had to be pretty light to ride in the city, and you really had to live there," he said.
Burgess said one issue was as tough for a jockey then as it was now.
"It's tough going weight-wise, you're always having saunas and dieting," he said.
Burgess moved into training after Smith died following a long illness in 1994.
He and Jenette joined forces in 2004.
Assistant manager at the Federal Hotel, Jenette does mostly morning work around the stables, including feeding, while occasionally doing track work.
While Burgess still rides track work, taking over a stable of horses and retiring from professional race-riding proved to be a relief.
Now 53, the trainer said he was still able to do occasional track work, but 20 years as a jockey had taken its toll.
"Riding horses for that long, things start to wear out," he laughed.
"You get injuries, arthritis. And it was a relief not having to diet anymore."
But training provided its own challenges, he said.
"It's a lot harder these days. Even if you get a handy horse, and get one going good, the big boys come up," he said.
Burgess said while Smith used to get horses up from the city if they weren't to group one standard, now high-profile trainers send them up to the country meets.
"Now these Melbourne trainers throw these horses on the back of a truck and say go here, go there," Burgess said.
"They're just sending them out for an easy kill and working them back to the city.
"It's sort of like trials when they bring them up here."
All the same, Burgess said on Monday he was hopeful of some success at Swan Hill's Valentine's Day meet yesterday.
With his first horse due to race at about 3pm, Burgess said he hoped Liquid Sunshine and Rory's Halo would perform strongly.
"Hopefully the first couple might go alright," he said.
In his training days, Burgess said Polyester Boy and Agent's Dream had probably been horses that stood out.
"Horses like that were handy without having something exceptional," he said.
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