Former jumps jockey Nick Smith rode his first winner in New Zealand at Pukekohe on Sunday when guiding Middle Khan to victory in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2100, bringing up his first win in the saddle in nearly 20 years.
“It was excellent getting that win,” Smith said. “My last winner would have been in 2005.”
The expat Englishman has spent his entire working life in the racing industry, competing as a jumps jockey in his homeland before transitioning to a career as a trainer, and subsequently moved to New Zealand 14 years ago.
“I got into racing straight from school and I worked for Michael Dickinson,” Smith said. “I was a jumps jockey in England for 15 seasons and I was lucky enough to ride winners at decent racetracks like Cheltenham and Liverpool. I made a living without breaking any records, and then I trained for a little while in England.”
Smith then felt like it was the opportune time to spend some time aboard and decided New Zealand was an ideal country to raise his young family.
“Both of my girls were quite young at the time, and it was just a nice country to come to and raise kids,” he said.
Smith initially started off riding track work at Cambridge before entering a training partnership with Graham Thomas, and subsequently went out on his own.
“I came to New Zealand in 2010 and started working for Tony Pike,” he said.
“I trained in partnership with Graham Thomas for a little while over here. We had a Group Three winner, Mangaroa Flo Jo, who won the Manawatu Breeders’ (Gr.3, 2000m).
“I had a pre-training business for a little while, and now I ride freelance track work, with Stephen Marsh being my main trainer.”
Smith continued to train a couple of horses and a discussion with jockey Mathew Gillies just days before the COVID-19 lockdown was the catalyst for Smith to return to the saddle on raceday.
“Matt Gillies rode a horse for me in a high weight in the last meeting before COVID,” Smith said. “He ran third and the next race in the calendar that was suitable for him was an amateur race. Matt said I should get my license and ride him myself.
“That put the idea in my head. While we were in lockdown I thought about it and thought I would get myself fit, and it would give me something to focus on.
“After lockdown I applied for my licence and have gone from there.”
Smith is into his fourth season riding in the amateur ranks and he said it gives him something to look forward to and train towards.
“It is a hobby that gives me a reason to keep fit. It is a good buzz and brings back a lot of memories,” he said.
“It is just nice to get on something that is competitive.”
