The Hard Work Is Still Ahead – Champion Jockey Dane Dawkins

KINGSTON, Jamaica - AFTER securing his first jockeys’ championship last year, Dane Dawkins says he has to cut the celebration short because a new riding season has started and the workload has to continue if he is to reap more success.

The soft-spoken jockey sealed the deal on the last day of racing at Caymanas Park with a brilliant triple on the 10-race card. Dawkins won aboard Mahogany in the $4-million Ian Levy Cup feature along with JNR Jones and Scooby.

Dawkins tallied 103 winners from 484 rides to claim the jockeys’ crown ahead of defending champion Anthony Thomas who rode 98 winners from 493 rides. Tevin Foster finished third with 56 winners from 428 rides while Reyan Lewis had 49 winners from 261 rides, and Shane Ellis had 39 winners from 180 mounts, completing the top-five jockeys for the season.

“I feel very happy about winning the championship for the very first time in my career. I must say that the hard work and dedication I have put into the sport over the years have paid off significantly for me, and I am very grateful for everything,” Dawkins said.

“I come to work early in the mornings and I am always the last one to leave the race track, so you can see how much I have put into this profession,” he added.

Dawkins then thanked the respective individuals who have been the driving force behind his success.

“First, I want to thank God for the strength and knowledge, plus the will to go through each day. I thank the trainers, owners, fellow riders, grooms, punters, and everyone in the racing industry for their continued support and encouragement along the way. Without my family members and everyone’s help this would not be possible,” Dawkins admitted.

Commenting on riding 100 winners for the season, Dawkins said, “It was also a joy for me to ride 100 winners in one single year. That was a great achievement. I feel wonderful about it.”

Since starting his career in 2015, Dawkins has ridden 296 winners, which places him in position 33 on the all-time jockeys’ list based on winners.

“I have won my first race aboard Di Cobre, and it was a very good feeling when I got off the mark. The best horse I have ridden in my career is Atomica — I mean, her accomplishments speak for themselves. She is the only horse that I have won so many feature races on; the 1000 Guineas, the Jamaica Derby, the Jamaica Cup, along with other stakes races,” he explained.

Thomas, who had won the jockeys’ championship on three occasions, said that he was pleased with his performances for the 2022 racing season.

“Well, it was a very good season for me. My agent and I worked together, and the partnership was very successful. I am happy the same way about not winning the championship and so everything is alright,” Thomas said.

Trainer Ian Parsard gave his views on Dawkins’ achievement.

“It is always a good achievement to be a champion. You know, having ‘champion’ behind your name says something — and I was happy to be the first to say that he had the potential — but to be honest, his work is hectic in the mornings, and his riding skills...you know, he deserves to be the champion in 2022.

“Congratulations to Anthony Thomas as well who rode excellently for the whole year but you know, for Dane, the year 2022 was his year and congratulations to him. Hopefully,  he can take this as a step where he can move forward to better his career in the future. I am really happy for him and hope for the best for him in 2023 and beyond,” Parsard said.

Parsard also said that Dawkins is an individual who knows his craft.

“Dane is very quiet, very [un]assuming, and very knowledgeable with horses as he knows what to tell you when he is programming the horses. When it comes to equipment changes or any issues the horses might have, he knows what to do.

“Once you know Dane you will be able to get the full 100 out of him in terms of information, which is what you need because horses can’t really talk to us. So, the trainer/jockey combination is very important in terms of that communication and once you are able to get it out of him, you can’t get a better rider,” explained Parsard.