- William Buick’s journey to jockey stardom.
- Childhood passion for horse racing.
- Balancing racing and family life.
“I was extremely eager,” William Buick says as he recollects his youth in Oslo. Even as a child, he yearned to ride racehorses before attending school on icy days. Buick, who has won his second consecutive year as Britain’s champion equestrian, would ride his bicycle to the racecourse despite the bitter winter mornings. “At about 12 years old, I began riding for Wido Neuroth, the largest trainer in Scandinavia and Norway.”
“On a particularly gloomy morning, my bicycle tires creaked on compact snow,” Buick recalls. The temperature dropped below -20 degrees Celsius, and he exclaimed, “Wow, this feels extremely cold.” Buick arrived at the racecourse and remarked, “Gosh, this morning is so quiet; no one is there.” Wido’s office was above the stables, and he told Buick, “We do not ride out when the temperature drops to -20 degrees Celsius.” “The temperature is unbearably low, even for us.
Now, Buick chuckles as he reflects on that gloomy morning. His Norwegian accent is still audible as he takes a brief respite from his hectic schedule, preparing for the Qipco Champions Day at Ascot. But that morning in Oslo was momentous.
At that time, Buick’s mother claimed she could have predicted his insatiable passion for horse racing. She couldn’t stop him, and that compelled her to support him.
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His acquaintances had zero comprehension of his fixation. “There is only one racecourse in Norway, and there are fewer than two hundred horses in training,” Buick says. Although everyone was aware of his actions, he wasn’t isolated from his peers. “My sole focus was on racing.”
Buick’s mother is Danish, with a strong background in equestrian sports, while his father, Walter, is Scottish, a former Norwegian jockey who won eight championships.
Buick acknowledges his father’s vital role in his journey. “When I first began, I had no idea how fortunate I was to have him in my corner.” “He exhibited a remarkable degree of directness. Undoubtedly, he would inform me of any error I might have committed. Now that I look back, I wonder, ‘How fortunate was I?'”
His father arranged for Buick to spend summers at Andrew Balding’s yard in England. Ian Balding, the father of Andrew and Clare, a retired trainer, even wagered that Buick, just 13 years old at the time, would become the champion equestrian. Buick acknowledges the confidence placed in him. “He must have recognized my talent, because, my God, I was so diminutive.” At the time, he weighed about six and a half stone. Riding racehorses was challenging for him, but each challenge served as a developmental milestone.
Last year, Buick won his first of two championships. Ian Balding donated Buick’s earnings to the Injured Jockeys Fund. Buick was motivated to win that championship after setbacks in the previous two years. As Champions Day approaches, he leads the championship by 27 points. Racing so many times a season needs focus, says Buick.
Buick has faced challenges in the current season, with no Group One victories while riding Charlie Appleby’s horses for Godolphin.
Buick acknowledges the transition. I had an incredible balance of large wins and a high number of winners last year. Being the reigning champion jockey has brought tremendous joy to my family and me.”
In a recent schedule, Buick raced in New York, Toronto, and Wolverhampton within days. He is accustomed to such a demanding lifestyle, much like his companion jockey Ryan Moore. Jockeys possess a unique quality of adaptability. Buick observes, “You lose more than you win.”
Buick and his wife have focused on a philosophical stance since becoming the guardians of their four-year-old son, Thomas. Thomas is non-verbal and autistic, but their parents support and encourage him. Buick acknowledges that it has been a life-altering experience. “Thomas is a genuinely joyful youngster who now has a sibling with whom he gets along splendidly.”
Thomas loves riding horses, and he lights up when he’s on a pony. Buick is thankful for the life he has and continues to cherish each moment.
