Former semi-professional footballer Frederick Larson enjoyed a dream start to his riding career when winning aboard Thrave at Southwell on Tuesday evening.
Larson first got on a horse in 2019 after turning his back on football, and could hardly have wished for a better start in the saddle after riding a winner in his first race, aged 21.
Larson, who admits he still has "a long way to go", was full of smiles after booting home the Mick Appleby-trained 13/2 chance Thrave in the Betway Classified Claiming Stakes (5.45), a minor race in the grand scheme of things but a huge moment for the jockey who had no experience of riding before a nudge from his father prompted the career change.
"I first sat on a horse about a year-and-a-half ago. Before that I was playing football semi-professionally, earning just a few quid," Larson said on At The Races.
"I fell out of love with it and one day my dad said to me 'you're pretty small, why don't you try and be a jockey? How hard can it be!' So I gave it a go and a year and a half later, here we are.
"I learned at British Racing School for 14 weeks then I was sent to Andrew Balding and learned a great deal there over a season. We parted ways about four months ago and I just wanted to kick on on the all-weather this year. Mt Appleby is really helping me do that at the moment.
"I owe it all to my dad for that one day in the van when he turned to me and suggested it - I'm sure he'll be texting everyone he knows right now!"
One ride, one winner! 21-year-old Frederick Larson first sat on a horse only a year and a half ago, and explained his brilliant story to @SirBobCooper earlier tonight at @Southwell_Races 👏 pic.twitter.com/DeVQGy0QBF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 8, 2020
