JJ Flash 2,135 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 Anyone who has been to Paris on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend will be familiar with the concept of Nuit Blanche - or White Night - a yearly cultural event which sees galleries and museums stay open round the clock to celebrate artists and their work. A different type of artist will be honoured at Happy Valley this Wednesday but a packed crowd will salute a very special "Whyte Night" as the most dominant jockey in Hong Kong history graces the city venue for the final time. A week has passed since Douglas Whyte announced that he will retire from the saddle on February 10 to take up training, after a career which has spanned three decades and produced 13 consecutive Hong Kong championships and well over 1800 winners. Almost 600 of those successes have come at the Valley and the Durban Demon admits that emotions will run high during a night designed to honour his record-breaking career. "Since this has all been released it's been like a roller-coaster!" Whyte said. The South African, 47, has three rides at his downtown farewell and special plans will be in place for the last of those, which comes in race seven aboard the Tony Cruz-trained California Gungho. Win or lose, Whyte will trot his mount along the home straight after the race to salute the thousands of fans lining the running rail. Whyte has long been renowned for his calm professionalism but admits he will be unsure what emotions will follow once he walks away from the Valley for the final time as a rider. "Happy Valley is a unique track," he reflected. "It's very unforgiving and there's no room for error but it's a beautiful track to ride if you get into a rhythm and find the positions. "One of my highlights there was riding a five-timer on one of the few Sunday meetings and winning the International Jockeys' Championship three times is also definitely on the short list of very fond memories. "This sort of thing doesn't sink in until it's all happened," he added. "I'm not sure how it will feel - but I'm about to find out." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 He will need a battleship to put his cash.week in week out one of the real greats. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fartoomuch 1,376 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 3 hours ago, tim vince said: He will need a battleship to put his cash.week in week out one of the real greats. One of the all time greats Tim. A pleasure to watch whether you punted him or not. The next chapter in his life as a trainer will be compulsory viewing IMHO Red Rum 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 He will get huge support from owners.ill eat my hat if he not one of the leading trainers in his first season.great tactician and understands the system. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 As u can see I'm a great fan of .hk racing.they leave no stone unturned for participants promote longevity for horses .have a system that tries to give every owner a chance.best jockeys gr8 trainers and make sure the public get great facilities and a sense of belonging.each year they don't rest on their laurels but try and upgrade. Hayden Sefonte, Chris Wood, Swoopa and 2 others 4 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,865 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 Yes been a great rider there for years will have plenty of owners support him, wish him every success. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fartoomuch 1,376 Report post Posted January 30, 2019 At about 6pm on Monday night, Douglas Whyte’s phone rang and he was told his riding career was over. But there were no tears of sadness about the end, which comes on February 10, only joy about a new chapter opening after the Jockey Club licensing committee granted him a training licence for the 2019-20 season. Whyte is a legend in Hong Kong, that is what happens when you ride 1,800-odd winners and collect 13 straight jockeys’ championships, but he is not dwelling on what he has achieved, only thinking about what is to come. He is just the second person given the opportunity to go straight from the saddle to the trainers’ tower, following in the footsteps of another Hong Kong hero, Tony Cruz. No wins from 3 rides at his last meeting at Happy Valley, 3 more riding dates at Sha Tin and its all over. Hard to accurately pinpoint how much his mounts earned but based on what ive seen its over HKD1.6 billion or roughly NZD295 million Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim vince 985 Report post Posted January 31, 2019 Amazing has a couple of chances Sat. I imagine Tony Cruz will try and find him decent chances.the punters revere there jockeys in .hk.they can get a spray if they get beat on a favs but overall they are looked on like royalty. Fartoomuch 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
