Breeders' Cup Connections: Lee Vickers and Far Bridge

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00:00I'm from England, you can tell by the accent, and I'm a third generation jockey, my grandfather

00:17was a jockey, my dad was a jockey, so obviously got involved with horse racing from a very

00:23young age.

00:24I was probably riding race horses when I was about 12 or 13.

00:27I was very lucky to be involved with some nice horses and jump racing in England, the

00:32Cheltenham Festival.

00:33I rode at Ascot, I rode some really big tracks, and I rode a couple of winters at Epsom where

00:39the Epsom Derby is, and decided I want to hone my skills in America, so I was lucky

00:45enough to be introduced to the Clements, and they helped me with my breezing, get some

00:52times together, and I fell in love with the place in America.

00:56Started as a breeze rider, next size rider for Mr. Clement, and then evolved from there

01:02and ended up assisting with travelling, going out of state with the horses out running.

01:07It's a great team, it's great camaraderie, everyone works together, just a really good

01:13connection with the horses.

01:15Farbridge, originally we had him in our barn as a two to three year old season, and we

01:21campaigned him in Florida.

01:23The boss had pencilled in the Belmont Derby as a target, but unfortunately we lost him.

01:27He got sold, his owner sold him on, but we were incredibly lucky to get him back after

01:32he'd had his three year old campaign.

01:35He's got his quirks, he's a quirky character, but he's all hearts, and he's got a serious

01:41engine.

01:42But he is an incredible horse, and we adore him.

01:46We just found him unlucky in some of his races, poor trips I think, I think he got a bit unlucky.

01:51Then the other day everything went right, and he showed to everyone that he's a top

01:55class individual.

01:56Farbridge digging in, he's a tough customer, Measure Time is lengthening that stride and

02:02cutting into every single inch of ground, 16th pole, Farbridge, Measure Time, Farbridge

02:10will not be denied, all the way in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer.

02:16Always winning your in-series, it's great to get that straight, that entry, that berth,

02:21and it's what everyone's looking for because it's the pinnacle of the racing year.

02:25It's the culmination of a year when you're going into these big races, that's where the

02:30year ends, and that's where you want to go, and it's fabulous to be considered to get

02:34that invitation and get the opportunity run for the Breeders' Cup, it's brilliant.

02:40Here to ride the horse around the track, you need to make a connection with your horse

02:45and get a rapport with them because there's a lot going on, and I think you need to get

02:50a relationship with them.

02:53Incredibly lucky to be involved in the industry, it's taken me globetrotting, and I just feel

03:01incredibly lucky to be in the industry.

03:04It's a labour of love, but it has taken me all around the world, introduced me to some

03:08lovely people, great teams, great horses, and I think that's what it's all about, it's

03:14being involved with these horses, getting these relationships and seeing them progress,

03:20and it's really rewarding when things go to plan.