Just over
100 days ago Ronald Woodworth passed away from a heart attack at the National
Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
At his side
was his son Benny, an international jockey, who brought his father back to Ipoh
to the funeral parlor for the wake.
He then took a flight from Penang to Singapore to honour all his engagements that he lined up that
weekend at the Singapore Turf Club where he rode a winner in Race 2 astride
Cavatina.
"This win is
for you Dad” his eyes cast upwards as he held back the tears. He then returned
for the funeral.
“I wanted to
finish the race and try and ride as many winners as I could. He was always
proud of me whenever I won and I dedicated the win to him” said Benny after the
funeral.
Ronald
Woodworth had always been around horses. His ambition was to become a
professional jockey but he was too tall and too heavy.
But in his
son Benny he saw that he was small built and he loved being around horses.
He has since been named Champion Jockey several times having earned the honour in Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius.
“I remember him taking me to the Iskandar Polo
Club. I was 8 years old at the time and used to help warm up the horses. I used
to look forward to that and would be disappointed if I didn’t get a ride that
day.
“He is the
one who trained me and taught me the basics until I joined Malcolm Thwaites
stable.
“Dad used to
take part in amateur races, very common in those day whenever there was a public
holiday. In fact one year he was the top Amateur Jockey.
“Later on
during the Pro-Amateur races, when I had turned professional, my father and me
both rode winners on the same day.
“Actually he is still teaching me cause in
horse racing you never stop learning cause every horse is different.
“We spoke all
the time before and after the race even with disagreement. We were super close.
“I am going
to miss my father very much as I won’t have anyone to mentor me anymore. I am
on own and I have to think the way he thinks”
JAG
Benny , your Dad and siblings are very old friends of my siblings too.
ReplyDeleteWe are so sad when we heard that he had "gone home"
He is now with God , the Saints and Angels and is in a very much better place.
God bless all of you.