Fairview trainer Jarett Rugg saddled his last runner at his home track on Tuesday and has turned his back on a sport he once labelled a passion.
While he says he is not pointing fingers or blaming anybody, he attributes the decline in his personal situation to the closure of Flamingo Park, coupled with the varying difficulties facing the industry.
Jarett Rugg says goodbye to horseracing (Pic – Pauline Herman)
“It’s a very emotional moment for me personally. My late Dad Vernon was in this game all his life. My Dad’s cousin Duncan McKenzie trains here at Fairview. My Grandfather and his four brothers were all jockeys. But when the day comes when you have to ask yourself whether it’s time to go before you get pushed, then I have to say that at the age of 39, I have to step out of denial and I thankfully still have time to build a new life,” Jarett explained to the Sporting Post.
He stresses that he never really made money out of horseracing and it was really an honour and a privilege to assist Duncan McKenzie when his Dad passed away in 2015.
“I worked hard and lived comfortably in Kimberley.I was so motivated when I went on my own. I definitely wasn’t rich, but my credit position was such that I wasn’t using my overdraft and could get asset finance. I could afford to feed the horses, pay my staff, settle the bills and tick over. But when the rumours about Flamingo Park’s closing started flying around about 12 months before the gates were shut, we all started swerving. It’s been downhill ever since – or an uphill battle, if that sounds better,” he adds.
He says that the simple fact is that owners aren’t finding it easy and racing is not attracting new patrons.
“It’s a hole. When you are in it, there are no lifelines. The majority of owners already have their trainers. When you don’t have the horses, you can’t saddle winners – which are our best advertisements. So we plod on, making up field numbers. Most of my owners have been staunch. And all my horses will be sorted out and allocated to other yards. I will hand the keys back at the end of April.”
Jarett issued a social media statement earlier.
‘Unfortunately I’ve had to make some tough decisions and today will be my last race meeting. I’ll be handing in my license after today and at the end of the month be starting a new chapter and journey. As hard and sad as it was to make this decision, I am also very excited and look forward to starting a new chapter in my life.
I would like to thank all my owners, family, friends, and supporters/fans for all you done and for always standing by me. I am eternally grateful to you and wish you all the best in your future. Let’s go out with a bang, have a great day.’
Unfortunately it was not a fairytale ending, with his last runner Irish Rain pulling hard and getting his tongue over the bit.
“I was hoping to at least go out with a winner. But that’s racing. We move on and cowboys don’t cry.”
Jarett has previous hospitality experience and will be joining an establishment in Hartswater.
“I know the area. The sea is far away. But it’s a good place to live and work.”
We wish Jarett all of the best. He was always willing to talk to the media.
