Where are they now? ERIC FORDRED

Photo above: Eric Fordred riding the first winner of his career as a jockey for trainer Alec Uzent at Newmarket on the 1st May 1974 aboard the filly Nandina, owned by Messrs Forssman, Ebner & Leaver. The race was a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1500m.

Diminutive in stature, but sizeable in intellect. That is 64 year old Eric Fordred, a name our older readers will remember well.

A household name as a jockey for 21 years in all SA Racing venues, Fordred was born in Zimbabwe, but moved with his parents to the Alberton / Germiston area in Gauteng, as a child.

Riding farm horses with his siblings as a young boy, he cites his Grandfather as fomenting the Horseracing interest in him, and the bug bit at an early age. In 1970, a 28kg waif of a lad tried joining The Jockeys’ Academy, but a pituitary glandular problem, affecting his weight (or lack thereof), almost cost him admission. After successful medical intervention, his apprenticeship commenced, initially at Pinetown Academy. As an apprentice, commencing in 1970, Fordred rode only two winners on the turf, but twelve on the sand. Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth his chief stomping grounds back then. He recalls, with great delight, his first ride, for Herman Brown. He was put on a giant of a horse, some 18 hands high. Despite the obvious nervousness, he finished 5th. They had to put cement around the saddle,” he chuckled. The 1980s were the golden years for Fordred. The list of legendary horses he sat, and/or won, on is impressive and lengthy. Among the champions he piloted that era were: Horatius, Flaming Rock, Captive Prince,

Epoque, Counter Punch, Esprit Du Corps, Mystery Me, Izindaba and Bombay Duck. Memorable rides were, winning on his first ride for Terrence Millard, when he punched the Argentinian-bred filly Epoque home in the SA Fillies Guineas in 1988/9, drawn 16 out of 16.

Beating home the brilliant Tucson on Horatius in the 1980 Diadem Stakes. Partnering Esprit Du Corps to victory in the 1988 Cape Merchants.

Booting home a 3 year old Counter Punch in the Matchem Stakes.

A close 3rd to the great Foveros in the 1982 J&B Met on Captive Prince and, the multiple victories on the flying daughter of Politician, Izindaba, who won an astonishing 15 races. Eric had a long-standing relationship with Cape trainer Alex Nicholas; some 10 years as the late conditioner’s stable jockey. He grins, recalling how some labelled him “Five Wide Fordred,” as he was never one to be afraid to circle a field, as many great overseas jockeys are wont to do in the modern era.

“Losing a race giving a horse a chance,” he told me, “is eminently better than losing it by being boxed in on the fence!” Another nickname he got over the years was from race caller Rouvaun Smit, who to this day, calls him “Effervescent Eric.” I can testify to that, as this slight man with a broad smile is probably still as “bubbly” as he was when he only weighed in at 28kg! In fact, he’s easy to spot in a crowd, as he still has pretty much the same look as he did when sitting on those 800 or so winners he trotted into the winners’ box all those years ago. In the mid-90s, as retirement loomed on the horizon, the ever astute business minded Fordred saw a gap in the insurance market for jockeys. He cites that, back then, insurance and medical aid coverage for jockeys and other “extreme” sportsmen were not comprehensive enough and he got proactive. Getting involved with several insurance companies, he began selling insurance to fellow jocks ‘out the jockeys’ room’ so-tospeak. And once he stashed his riding gear away for keeps, insurance became his main focus. He is currently in his 26th year as a “broker” to race riders and other sportsmen and women, always looking to get those brave enough to mount a half-ton beast daily, a “fair and dependable” indenture. His clients have been far and wide.

What about the future? I asked him over our 2nd restaurant cappuccino in Melkbosstrand, the village we both currently reside in. His eyes lit up. “I’m working on retiring to Mozambique,” he replied with a broad smile. “I’ve already some vested interest there.” When will all this happen? I asked. “I will let you know,” his reply. As we walked to our cars, I couldn’t help but notice the trademark “Effervescent Eric” gait, and I’m almost sure he went “five wide” around a few locals, before he climbed into his car.