Story, photos and video by Alva Solomon

He weighs 114 pounds. His tall, lanky appearance may appear light for young a man at 30-years-old but champion jockey, Colin Ross maintains a healthy approach to horse racing, a sport which he has “lived” almost his entire lifetime.

Ross is the 2015/2016 champion of horse racing in Guyana, a feat he has achieved from hard work, dedication and his general love for animals. His name is popular in the sport locally, especially in the Ancient County of Berbice and the island nation of St Kitts and Nevis, where he outrode opponents on several occasions.

Hailing from Number 40, West Coast Berbice, Ross told Guyana Chronicle that he has been racing since he was 8-years-old. He grew up among the horses and always dreamed of being a jockey.

“Everybody cut out for they thing, growing up as a little boy and coming around horses and wanted to be in it,” he said during the interview at the Rising Sun Turf Club recently.

Since he is considered one of the best in the country and the region, a call came for Ross from St Kitts several years ago and he was invited to ride among the best in the Caribbean and further afield. He raced on that island for two years.

“The type of racing between the foreigners is not like here,” he said, noting that sometimes he wins and sometimes he settles for places down the line. He spoke of the high level of competition during the meets.

Ross said that there are many competitive jockeys in the region and he considers himself experienced and skillful enough to compete with the best. In 2015 and 2016, he walked away with the top prizes at races held in Berbice at events which included the Guyana Cup and the Guyana Cup Fever.

On Boxing Day last year, Ross rode Golden Blue Ecko at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club beating all opponents in the feature D and lower 9F event, at the club’s base at Bush Lot Corentyne, Berbice. The win saw the horse and jockey picking up more than $1.2M in winnings.

According to the soft-spoken Ross, his preparations for the race meets entails working hard and ensuring the horses are fit for the event. In addition, he said he eats “anything” but conducts his usual exercise routines to maintain his weight.

“The lighter you be, the better for you”, he added.

Ross said he eats “anything, drink anything and I don’t really put on any type of weight”, adding that he exercises regularly, especially in the lead up to the race meets.

“I win a lot of races but I really can’t say which was the best,” Ross said regarding his experiences.  As it relates to his future, he said, “Well I see myself in it for a very long time.”