Weekly column - Talk from the Track
We all remember the disaster Ukraine suffered in 1986 but those who were fortunate enough to live in the opposite direction that the wind was blowing at that time escaped the devastating horrors that Chernobyl caused.
Yuliya Vovchok (Julia) was among the more fortunate. This young lady grew up with her sister and their hard working mother during very tough times in her homeland. At aged thirteen she had developed a heart condition so serious that she was confined to hospital for weeks at least once a year and was not allowed to participate in any physical activity whatsoever. So no playing ping pong or volleyball with her friends.
This young girl believed she would never have real fun on life. The Doctors were certain that the sickly girl could only be helped by an operation to repair her heart the cost of which was a sum beyond the reach of her family.
Her mother went to work in Russia in order to try and save the money needed for her daughter’s operation. Yuliya’s Grandmother was left to care for the two girls and they both helped on her little farm with the cows and calves.
During this time an opportunity arose via school to attend a Showjumping School. Yuliya was desperate to go but needed parental permission so Granny was told that Mother had agreed, a plan which worked until a medical certificate of fitness to attend was requested!
Yuliya must have been extremely persuasive in her argument as not only her Mother but essentially the Doctors relented enough to give it a try for two weeks after which she had to return to hospital for tests.
So for the following fourteen days the train journey to the showjumping school was embarked on.
Yuliya learnt the basics of horse riding enough to know she loved it and her life suddenly got happier. But she had to return to hospital for further checks after her two week stint of helping to care for the horses as well as ride them and unbelievably a miracle had happened in so much as her heart function had become completely normal during this time.
All her medication was stopped and still she remained in good health. It would seem that the horses had cured all her medical issues.
It didn’t take too long for the competitive spirit to come to the fore and at sixteen-years-old she entered in her first National competition - and won it. Her school allowed her special dispensation of time-off for showjumping and during the next five years she enjoyed huge success, so much in fact that others slightly resented that she was vary rarely ever beaten.
As her time at the showjumping school came to an end a knight in shining armour came to the rescue in the form of a wealthy Ukranian veterinarian student who sponsored Yuliya and her friend with a string of beautiful and talented horses. In no time at all she became National Champion of Ukraine.
While it was an unpaid role it gave enormous satisfaction to the girl who had once had no hope of ever doing anything so exciting. Sadly when the economy in Ukraine took a downturn the horses had to be sold and Yuliya took a job teaching a business man’s children to ride. This same man bought and sold horses that Yuliya and her friend produced as well as encouraging her showjumping career.
Life continued apace for a few years with their sponsor bankrolling the operation off the occasional sale of future star jumping horse.
In 2000 Yuliya Vovchok was selected as a reserve rider for Ukraine in the Sidney Olympics. What an awesome moment that must have been for her mother, granny and sister. And she was still only twenty one.
But all good things come to an end. For a short time Ukraine possessed a racing school which prepared young riders for the horseracing industry. The funding for this came by way of a loan repayable in six months requiring families to sign over their homes in case of non payment. It was being run by an ex-jockey who recommended Yuliya to Trainer Eddie Lynham- the trainer of universally loved crack sprinter Sole Power.
For two years the former Olympian mucked out and brushed horses, considered too weak to ride them and during this time Mr Lynham but recognising a talented rider he wanted on his team he made the galant gesture of repaying her mother’s Racing School loan thus saving her from eviction.
Meanwhile Sole Power had met the person who would accompany him on his travels around the world, including four trips to Hong Kong and no less than six visits to us in Dubai. He has won more than (£ two million in prize money and is preparing to defend his Al Quoz Sprint title.
He is a tiny horse with the biggest heart and a giant character to match. At nine-years-old retirement may not be far away for him so for now enjoy the privilege of watching this super little horse and take a second look at the tall lean young woman with the piercing blue eyes who will be walking by his side - proudly
— The author is a former trainer from the UK and the mother of leading international jockeys James and Sophie Doyle.
