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Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

Peter McKenzie, stud master, breeder, trainer, owner, actor (Elendil in Lord Of The Rings)  etc and certainly a real character passed away last Saturday.
Funeral service this Friday Lychgate Funeral Home in Wellington 11am. 
RIP Peter.  

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

The great Bertie Bryant told the story of Les Boots on a Melbourne racing show one day and it was the funniest thing hearing him tell the others of Les’s bad luck. Everyone was in stitches. I don’t think Bertie could go on in the end. One of the funniest stories in racing 😆😆

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

I notice a horse having his first start at Waverley today in R4 by the name of Les Boots. That triggered my recollection of hearing about a legendary Australian jockey by the same name. I know that Alexander Fieldes has a very good sense of humour and he may be trying to see if his Les Boots can actually get into the winner’s circle as the human Les Boots still holds the dubious title of The Worst Jockey Ever.
 
 
 
The Worst Jockey Ever by Pete Monaco The Eighth Pole published Jan 10 2022
 
Les Boots was a jockey who rode intermittently on the Southern Australian circuit for 18 years and his numbers are quite impressive.
He rode in 39 races and found himself on the carpet 40 times, even falling off the same horse twice. Les never had a winner, never hit the board, and never even stayed on any of his mounts for more than a half-mile and he went to the hospital after every race he rode in. Every horse he was ever on went off at odds of 100 to one or greater and he never even came close to finishing a race.
Yes, folks, those numbers are super impressive and I thought this was a joke when I stumbled upon Les's story several years ago but it's all true.
 
Les Boots started out as an apprentice jockey and rode for the stables of Harry Butler. He began by working horses and mucking stalls and one day Mr. Butler called him into his office. He wanted Les to ride a horse named Umbalir in a jump race at Cheltenham and the kid was beyond excited. But his excitement didn't last long as Les and his mount didn't make it past the first fence and the new rider paid a visit to the local hospital after his debut. He would get to ride Umbalir two more times and the result was the same. A close-up view of the turf and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Les was three for three but he wasn't done yet.
It was about this time that his wife got the idea to pack some comfortable hospital garb along with his lunch for his after-work activities at the hospital.
 
"My wife used to pack my pyjamas in a brown paper bag and put them in with my riding gear which was embarrassing when the other jockeys spotted them," Les said.
Not only did Les fall 40 times and off of the same horse twice but if you count falling out of the ambulance on the way to the hospital it would be 41.
 
"I rode a horse at Cheltenham one day, fell going out of the straight," Les explained. "I caught him, remounted him, and fell (again) at the half-mile, and (then) I fell out of the ambulance going to the hospital."
Les broke about every bone in his body, including a broken neck that sidelined him for two years.
"I'm not kidding when I tell you that the nurses at Adelaide Hospital used to check out the fields for the races and if they saw I had an engagement they'd get my usual bed ready in advance," Les said. "I was in the saddle for about 18-years and I reckon I spent twelve of them in hospital." Les also said he was on a first-name basis with every hospital worker at Adelaide Hospital.
Poor Les was nicknamed "Old Autumn Leaves," for his propensity for always falling down to earth during a race.
"I used to ride a half-dozen horses in work, two or three times a week, but when it came to the real thing I couldn't stay on," Les said. "Every time I rode in races I fell off or the horse did or we both did. It got a bit much when the starter mounted his stand and just before releasing the field he'd call out 'We'll come around the hospital through the week, Les, and bring you some fruit."
Les Boots passed away in 1987 at the age of 80 and always had a great attitude and a tremendous sense of humour. 
"My most frightening experience was on a misty foggy day at Victoria Park," he said. "I fell off at the first (jump) and being a bit winded, was laying on the track waiting for the ambulance to arrive when through the fog I heard this voice saying 'I think we'll have to shoot him.' I beat the ambulance back to the jockey's room, where they sedated me and explained they were talking about the horse!"
Fellow rider and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Johnny Letts, often spoke about Les and claimed when he was riding it made for a long day for all the other jockeys. He said if Les was riding in a race everyone knew he was going down and so did Les. The ambulance would come and cart him away but racing couldn't resume until the ambulance came back from the hospital and the entire card was delayed every time Les had a mount.
"I was the only jockey they reckon in Australia that got bed and breakfast for 15 years," he said. "And I went home one weekend after 13-years and people asked me what I was doing home."
His last fall was his worst and the countless injuries eventually took their toll on this masochist and he was forced to retire.
"I gave the game away after a bad fall off a horse called Paila when I broke my neck and spent two years in hospital," Les said.
"I never did realize my life's ambition to ride in the English Grand National at Aintree. My wife cancelled my passport, she reckoned I'd be the first jockey to drown at the water jump. I went to a picnic one day and they even barred me from the merry-go-round, (they) said it wasn't safe."

Unfortunately Donovan fractured his pelvis in a track accident yesterday morning.
Hence not riding.    
 

Indeed. Gryllsy gave her a quiet one. 

I will go with a couple from the Avondale trials on 15th Rev.  The winners of heats 16 and 17.