Chad Little – Ready For A Fresh Start

Chad Little’s clawback from the brink of the abyss of a wasted life drifting aimlessly from one day to the next, has been nothing short of remarkable.

The former multiple champion apprentice’s unsteady future was on a downward spiral to oblivion, until he got a few proverbial kicks in the rear that he has somehow converted into his own mini miracles.

At the age of 40, Chad realizes that he has been thrown a last lifeline with the news this week that he will be allowed to ride again.

This after a five year suspension handed down by the National Horseracing Authority at an Inquiry held in Johannesburg in September 2019.

The penalty followed a urine specimen taken at the Vaal on 11 July 2019, which was found to contain methamphetamine, which is a banned substance.

The story starts when Alfie and Dale Little welcomed a fiery bundle of joy into their lives on 30 August 1984 and a brother for the now Scotland-based, Lester.

Grandfather Bennie Little, an internationally successful jockey, and five times SA amateur boxing champion, had ridden Tiger Fish to victory in the Durban July for the Oppenheimers 25 years earlier.

Dad Alfie was a racing man – a trainer and then agent to top jockeys Willie Figueroa and Piere Strydom over the years, before joining Phumelela. So racing was coursing through the young Chad’s veins from the day he was born.

Athletic and sporting, hard as nails, and built for the saddle, it’s no surprise that Chad packed up his schoolbooks at Alberton High and became the next Little to forge a career as a professional jockey.

He found himself at the SA Jockey Academy in 1998. Life was good, he enjoyed the camaraderie and he loved connecting with the horses and his peers who shared similar dreams of conquering the world.

“I was surrounded by guys who went on to become top jockeys in their own right. Bernard Fayd’herbe, Muzi Yeni, Richard Fourie, Raymond Danielson, Marco van Rensburg,” reflects Chad as he tells about the adrenaline high of his first ride, which was a winner.

“It was 2 March 2000. I rode a Gallic League filly called Tachinga for Mr Vaughan Marshall. It was a 1000m C Division sprint at what we now know as Hollywoodbets Scottsville. First ride, first winner. Easy game. Adulation. The whole world says here’s a new star. A champion. That’s a whole lot of smoke blowing for a windgat 16 year old!” frowns Chad as he tells that the seed of his future problems was probably planted that day.

“Not everybody gets swept up in the new found star status. But money, nice cars and attention is a lot to handle for an average teenager. We have seen it before and we will no doubt see it again.”

Despite his lust for the good life, Chad’s career progressed well and he rode some top horses for top yards – including the likes of Sean Tarry’s Met winner Alastor to win the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes, July winners Pomodoro and Heavy Metal, champion sprinter National Colour and a number of really smart horses for David Payne.

But as the years passed, he found himself slumping into a pattern of substance abuse.

“It starts as a party kicker every few months. Before you know it, your life is overpowered and you are dependant and addicted – and the choice is no longer yours. The drug addict is selfish. You bulldust your way through life. All you look for is that next fix. My worst when I look back now is how I let so many good people down. From my family, to trainers and owners, who were supporting me. Only one person mattered and that was Chad Little,” he adds with a shake of the head.

Chad tells how he landed up in rehab and went through the motions. Time after time he completed the programmes, and walked out the door saying outwardly that he ‘was fine’ – but somehow knew that he wasn’t.

“The thing was that I thought I was okay. But there was always this niggle and a gnawing yearn in the back of my head to just go back for one more high. And the more one messes up and relapses, the deeper and darker the hole becomes. And it’s a terribly lonely place!”

When he picked up his five year ban, the depression and darkness reached black hole status.

“I had nothing to live for. Five years is a lifetime for anybody and more so for a jockey in his mid -thirties. I always had my career as an anchor of sorts. And getting back to near normal was a goal in the distance. But that eventually became a mirage in the desert that was my life. I could see it some days, but mostly I didn’t want to get out of bed. I didn’t care.”

That’s when Chad decided he had to give rehab one last bash. This new dawn also coincided with the birth of he and fiancé Nikita’s beautiful daughter, Grace-Ann.

“Grace-Ann’s arrival was the God-given catalyst that grabbed me round the neck and shook some sense into me. I decided I had to drop the selfishness and the pathetic creature that I had become and to do it for my daughter, and for my family.”

The Littles packed up their life in Johannesburg.

“I had to get away from the trigger points, the memories, the people. I am not blaming anybody but I needed a clean start. We moved to the Cape. I spoke to Glen Kotzen and a few other people. There was nothing.”

Then in the week that they were packing up to return to the Highveld, he got a whatsapp from Glen Kotzen.

It was short and curt: ‘Come ride some work’.

“I was at Woodhill Estate the next day. The Kotzen family and their team have been amazing. Loving, kind and understanding. They owed me nothing. But they gave me everything – and a second, or is it a third, chance, to recapture my dignity, my life.”

A proud and thrilled Glen Kotzen said that Chad is an inspiration to many and has shown enormous dedication and tenacity in working towards his dream to race ride once again.

“He arrives punctually at the yard with a smile and a ‘can do’ attitude. Chad has become an integral part of the Woodhill Team and we wish him only the very best for the future,” said Glen.

Chad is resident in Table View and his Mom, Dale, has joined the family. He says that he is more excited about the future than he has ever been.

“I believe one needs to reach ground zero rock-bottom before really being able to turn things around. That’s what happened to me. I was half-hearted until I was staring no prospect of any future in the face. The birth of my daughter, who is now three and a half, will always be my Damascus moment, for want of a better definition. I have found my spiritual grounding and my faith. I have also joined a community life group at our church, where we meet Monday evenings. It’s good to be in a position where I can lift people up and add value in terms of personal counsel and life experience.”

He adds that so many people are facing their own demons without therapy or a caring ear.

“It doesn’t have to be drugs. It can be anything. My addictive personality compounded issues and we don’t really want help until there’s no turning back. But it doesn’t have to get there. That’s why I enjoy sharing my experience so others can see the signs and take heart that better days lie ahead when we take proper ownership and have something to live for.”

Chad is hoping to fulfill the NHA licence conditions so that he can return on 16 November to race riding.

“I have come down in four months from 68 kgs to 57,5 kgs. I am working hard. I’m fit and cannot wait. It’s also exciting to know that Glen Kotzen has an outstanding string of horses for the season. I just have to sort the insurances and medical cover, do a fitness test and then I am back doing the one job that I dreamt of since I was old enough to chat to my buddies who wanted to be firemen and fighter pilots. I had the chance. I stuffed it up. This time I am here to stay. Thank you to every person that has shown an interest. I am eternally grateful for the care and love,”he concluded.

• Ed – Another man hoping to ride again, Andrew Fortune expects to learn the outcome of the licencing decision of an Appeal Board on Thursday 7 November 2024.