ENGLISH TEXTS train lines, jockeys are country hoping more and more to ride in races around the world. France is certainly no exception especially in the national hunt game. Three names that certainly need no introduction are James Reveley, Felix de Giles and Charlotte Prichard. All three turned a working summer holiday into a full-time residency after enjoying their time and realsing that the grass is infact greener. All three have dominated the game, winning numerous graded races and all three taking the title of champion jockey. Before them it was Dean Gallagher and Phillip Carberry who turned their focus on to the Parisian jumping game that led to a full-time tenancy and multiple major wins. I myself made the move and loved it whilst it lasted, a decision I would make 100 times over.
It’ s the change of pace compared to Ireland or the UK that is the big appeal. Throw in some very good prize money and a side order or fantastic cheese and wine and why wouldn’ t a British or Irish jockey decide to stay. Avid viewers of jump racing in France would have seen another British name to don the race card regularly. From 2019 to the middle of 2024, he grew quite a reputation for being a steady pair of hands who was reliable and strong in a finish. Since July 2024 though he’ s not set foot in a French weighing room and that’ s because he has done something that not many ex-pats do, he moved back to the UK. I am of course talking about Nathen Howie. The thirtyyear-old jockey from Cambridge made a slow start to his riding career in France in 2019 but had a breakthrough year in 2023 riding 31 winners and amassing over a million euros in prize money. So why the sudden abrupt end and move? I sat down with him in his home in Red Lodges outside of Newmarket to ask about his old life and new.“ From a young age I was always sporty, whether it be football, rugby or any sport including a bit of pony club but after three weeks I was bored of that. Boxing was something I fell in love with, and I still regularly try to take part and train in, but I didn’ t know what I wanted to do. I was eighteen years old pot washing in a restaurant and my stepdad Steve said to me why don’ t I go to the British racing school. Racing has always been in my blood with my Mum having worked in racing all her whole life and is currently a head girl for John Godson and my dad having had a few rides himself back in the day. I was pretty unsure but seeing my Mums horse Knockara Beau win the Cleeve hurdle at Cheltenham for George Charlton and legendary Czech jockey Jan Faltesek made me take the leap in to racing.” Howie made the move from Newcastle where he was living at the time leaving the pot washing life and started the 12-week course at the British Racing school in Newmarket at 19 years old in February 2014.“ I’ d never really sat on a horse before starting this course let alone cantered one. The first four weeks are just a taster where they start you from the beginning teaching you how to trot and then moving on to cantering. I stayed on and did another eight weeks at the school where we lived for the whole duration as well and I really enjoyed it but was very different to anything I had done before.” Graduates of the AFASEC would notice how different it is to the French program of getting youngsters in to racing. After his 12 weeks Howie was sent straight into full time employment, ironically with one of his Mums former bosses Chris Wall.“ I used to go when I was younger into Chris yard, so it was funny how it was my first job. I Loved it riding the flat yearlings when they arrived and I still put quarter marks on my horses before pulling out every lot, that’ s something he was very particular on and drilled into me. I sat on a few good horses too like Mr Win who ran in the Bunbury cup handicap at Newmarket. One I had a lot to do with and rode every day was mix and mingle, she was special. I took her to Newmarket for the 1,000 guineas in 2016 where she got hampered and finished 7 th but that was a great day. Chris gave me my amateur license and my first ride too at Newbury in an amateur race on a horse called ataman, he finished last and ended up jumping
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