Andre Martin ... has already ridden 24 winners. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Unlike his fellow Jockeys' School graduates, Andre Martin was born to ride horses. For the 18-year-old apprentice, who just missed a triple at Caymanas Park on Saturday, racing is a family tradition.

His late father, Alvin Martin, was a jockey and trainer. And his brother, Delroy (also deceased), was a useful jockey in the mid and late 1970s, before switching to training because of weight problems.

A past student of Jamaica College, Andre at age 17 was the youngest of the 15 apprentices who graduated from the Jockeys' School last year following a six-month course conducted by the Jamaica Racing Commission.

They started riding on Saturday, July 29 and Andre is one of the stars to have emerged from the batch, along with Javour and Jason Simpson and Carlton Malcolm. These four have impressed punters and providing they keep on the straight and narrow path, should all be around in years to come.

To date Andre has ridden 24 winners, seven of these coming this season, thanks to a double aboard BABY RENEE and ALL FIRED UP in the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup secondary feature on Saturday. He just missed his first triple when DANCING SAM was run out of it close to home by NASATOL in the Wayne DaCosta Trophy overnight allowance feature over 1100 metres.

Brave effort

"I was really looking forward to my first triple on Saturday, but DANCING SAM went down fighting and that was a brave effort," said the well-spoken youngster, who hails from Newlands in Portmore.

"Right now I am pleased with my riding but still have a lot to learn if I hope to become an accomplished jockey like my mentor, Andrew Ramgeet.

"I would like to thank my apprentice master Tensang Chung, who being an ex-jockey continues to give me useful hints, and veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, who has given me rides aboard some good horses like Dancing Sam and Alliedforce.

"My goal is to become the top apprentice by the end of the year and with hard work and determination on my part, it can be achieved," said Andre who tips the scales at 50.0kg and rides at 51.0kg.

Despite his success, Andre is mindful of the pressures and pitfalls in racing, especially with young riders who are doing well. These include dishonesty, drug abuse, injury and weight problems.

"You have to remain level-headed and not get involved in all the hype. Jockeys have to be professional and treat success as part and parcel of the job. That way you are better able to cope with the bad patches that will come from time to time," he added.

Andre recalls losing his first winner, MY PAL DON, in the Stewards' Room on August 29 last year and how he felt dejected that day.

Good encouragement

"I was encouraged by many trainers and other people not to let the disappointment hold me back. Trainer Welsh Soutar reminded me after the race, that Winston Griffiths also lost his first winner through disqualification and that I was in good company," he said.

He eventually rode his first winner, WEE GLITZ, for trainer Margaret Parchment on September 9 and having progressed along the right lines since, the sky's the limit.

His success has come by dint of hard work, dedication and application.

Andre arrives at the track by 6:00 a.m. every morning and works horses for a number of trainers.

In addition, he works out frequently and eats wisely (fish and vegetables) to keep his weight in check.

He explains that he rides long and short in much the same way as another JC old boy, four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey. He confesses that he chose JC due to the Hussey factor.

Today, Andre has no regrets.