ENGLISH TEXTS prestigious races and carried the most famous silks. He believes that“ the mind is more important than the body, because if your mind goes far, your body follows.” Stéphane Pasquier was born in Nanterre, near Paris.“ In my neighborhood, I was the smallest one, the one they’ d put at the top of the tree! But I managed to end up in a world where that complex turned into a strength.” When he began his apprenticeship with Robert Collet at sixteen, his 1.60m( 5’ 3”) frame was, in fact, an asset. What stood out, however, was the boy’ s fiery character:“ I wasn’ t always well accepted in this world because at first I was a bit hot-headed. That gave me a shell, and now everything just rolls off me. I feel like I have enough mental strength to live my life without too much pressure, precisely because I built my character the hard way. I’ ve worked with the same people for a very long time, and that helps: we go through the good moments together, and the bad ones too. And every hard blow helps you take the next one better.” Pasquier’ s experiences abroad were key in building his mindset:“ I rode in India in the 2010s, and what I saw there really woke me up. Over there, even the person living in the street is smiling and seems happy with what they have. When I face a challenge, like the end of a contract or being taken off a horse I’ d put my heart into, I remind myself that there are people far worse
off than me, and that helps me protect myself.”“ I have confidence in myself,” adds the Chantilly-based jockey.“ I know what I’ m worth, but I’ m very critical of myself, which actually helps me maintain that confidence. I always rewatch all my races, and if I lose by a nose, I ask myself why.” His mental comfort also comes from mastering his schedule:“ At my boss Robert Collet’ s, I was brought up as a Parisian jockey. I was taught that there are other professionals working in the provinces, and you shouldn’ t take away their livelihood. Frenetically running from one racetrack to another just to rack up wins and break records isn’ t my thing. I’ d rather preserve time to share with my family- my wife Olivia, our two children, and my close ones- because that’ s part of my balance.” That didn’ t stop Stéphane from being crowned Cravache d’ Or( France’ s champion jockey) in 2007. While the top five jockeys in the French standings account for nearly 40 % of the rides, it’ s certainly harder for newcomers to break through. Pasquier advocates for today’ s young jockeys to receive more support from the institution than their elders did, even if he finds them too impatient to get race rides:“ I’ d like to play a big brother role for them, but they don’ t listen to me, it’ s a generation in a hurry to succeed right away!” Which increases the risk of burning out...“ I think young jockeys today are a bit better supported than we were. The more structures we put in place for them, mental preparation, weight management, financial guidance, the better. At the start of my career, for example, I handled my earnings very poorly. I could have saved more if I’ d been better advised. I wish racing would go so well that we’ d hire plenty of former jockeys for supervisory roles. People whom those who feel lost at the end of their careers— after spending their lives at the top of the world, could turn to.” Figure: 1,194- that’ s the number of races Cristian Demuro, leader in the French jockey standings, had ridden by mid-September, with 185 wins. For Stéphane Pasquier, ranked 9th, the tally was 536 races for 62 wins.
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By Loic Stecher-Chocron
AMBRE MOLINS
Ranked among the best female jockeys, Ambre Molins stands out week after week on French racecourses. She already boasts nearly 30 victories since the beginning of the year. The young professional speaks candidly about mental health.
Galorama. What is the first word that comes to mind when we talk about jock-
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