Willie Supple
Willie Supple |
With so much being said of Supple's riding persona, let's meet him outside the paddock after it's time to unsaddle, come clean of racing gear and literally kick off his boots.
Having been raised in Ireland, a country known for its historical love of horses, Willie's adolescent leaning toward his current profession seems but a natural consequence. His romance with racing started early when as a curious four year old he was keen on joining the rest of the riding league. Horses and the countryside soon became a way of life and, school he decided, had to take a backseat.
"I didn't mind school that much" he reminisces "It was the homework that I disliked!" A line of retrospect that most can identify with. Willie soon learned that his new profession demanded as much homework, though at a different level, as he started his long climb to success at Ireland's Apprenticeship riding school. He then worked with trainer Jim Bulger and, as all success stories will quip, the rest is history.
A sports enthusiast, Willie's athletic build kept him involved in both football and athletics as he went on to represent his school, as well as his county, in both sports.
Despite his dominant passion for horse racing, Willie still watches out for a good game of football and spends his leisure time at the golf course. He contends, however, that being a jockey does not allow him the time or the exposure to stay involved in much else.
And while the lay person may argue that life as a jockey is all about having one's hobby as his profession, the fact remains that the basic ingredients to any successful career, irrespective of which field, are 'determination, dedication and consistency.'
Willie recognises, however, that a wholesome life must stretch beyond the everyday peripherals that his racing career tends to define. He therefore prefers to enjoy this professional path on a personal level as well.
Having travelled to Australia, India and South America on racing assignments, Willie has come to appreciate the distinctive appeal of each culture. The one concern he voices while talking of travelling is that he misses a sense of stability.
Constantly on the move, Willie and his family spend their summers between England and Ireland where he continues to race, and then moves base to Dubai for the Emirates racing season. But with his wife Sinead and daughter Aoife travelling with him, any place he agrees is home.
Racing in the Emirates has played a dominant role in shaping Willie's career as a successful jockey who spells consistency. Having broken all erstwhile racing records, Willie rode home 75 winners during the last racing season, and together with trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam helped position the Jebel Ali Stables as a force to contend with.
On the personal front, Willie enjoys the present climate in Dubai while agreeing that he is fortunate not to have experienced the Gulf's legendary hot and humid summers thus far! He observes that Dubai has come a long way in terms of development, both internal and international, and that the city is now being spoken of back in his hometown in more than mere passing conversation.
Willie's roots lie in Kerry, Ireland where life, he explains is as slow as it is simple. It is his constant travelling that helps him realise time and again, the importance of simple pleasures like a drink at his neighbourhood pub or a quite meal with his family. And while he appreciates and accepts the necessity that is change, he stresses the importance of acknowledging one's history.
"The more we get, the more we want. It's human nature. But sometimes we go too far and then it is important to hold on to our roots and remember that what we are, comes from who we were".
The riding boots come on, his saddle is in place and its mount time once again. But for the man who grew up on country horses, scenic terrain and pulsating racecourses, this is perhaps the one role he will hold on to the most.