Episode 286: Mikayla Weir

It’s unlikely there’s a busier jockey in Australia currently than Hunter Valley based Mikayla Weir. As this podcast is posted Mikayla has had 32 race rides on 8 different race tracks in 10 days. Just for practice she rode in 11 barrier trials at Scone last Wednesday.  In an interview recorded on Good Friday she takes us through that horrendous schedule. The young jockey logs enormous mileage to honour commitments in the North Eastern corner of the state. She explains how she comes to terms with the travelling. Mikayla takes us back to early days on the South Coast and her introduction to rodeo. She explains the fundamentals of some of her favourite rodeo pursuits. Mikayla recalls the fateful day at a Cooma rodeo when she met her partner, professional rodeo star Jock Bone-Langdon. The 27 year old looks back on her first racing stable job with Kembla trainer Kerry Parker. It was a year before Kerry allowed her to ride trackwork. She was “hooked” from the first moment. Mikayla reflects on her successful application for an apprenticeship with Hunter Valley trainer Todd Howlett- an apprenticeship which only recently concluded. The hard working jockey remembers her first race ride and the magical moment of her initial win. Mikayla acknowledges some of the nice horses who’ve helped to lift her profile in recent times. She makes special mention of her role model Kathy O’Hara, and expresses her gratitude to the trainers who’ve given her regular support. The popular jockey talks of the support she receives from partner Jock who gives her the latitude to pursue her chosen career. Mikayla outlines the improvements she and Jock have made to their Jerry’s Plains property. She hints at a future as a trainer.