An Interview With Ian Popham

The ex-jockey Ian Popham, known as 'Pops', rode over 150 winners as a professional and started out at Philip Hobbs’ and Paul Nicholls’.

He rode a Racing Post Chase winner on Bally Legend for the former trainer Caroline Keevil and rode a Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase success on Annacotty when trained by Martin Keighley and a Paddy Power Gold Cup when he was latterly trained by Alan King.

Since 2018, Pops has been an agent, a job he describes as a ‘middleman and go-between’ between trainers and jockeys, and now has thirty-two jockeys on his books. ‘His’ Harry Skelton winning the Championship for the 2020-21 season has been the highlight so far and there will be many more championships in the future.

Did you have a horsey childhood?
'I did yes, I grew up on a farm and dad loved his racing. We were a racing family. Dad’s Uncle Chris trained Panto Prince who famously locked horns with Desert Orchid at Ascot and also trained a Scottish National winner with Roll-A-Joint.'

How did you get into racing?
'Having always had ponies, at 12, I went to Philip Hobbs' and one of the lads chucked me up and let me round the barn. I continued to go during the holidays and at weekends until I left school and I joined full time.'

What’s your favourite racecourse?
'Taunton, it was my home track and being a local lad, I had lots of support there. It was always popular when I had a winner at Taunton and it was also my first experience of racing when I'd go as a boy with my dad.'

What’s your favourite racehorse?
'It’s hard to pin it down to one but at I'd have to say Annacotty and Bally Legend, who gave me the biggest wins of my career. Currently, it's Go Steady who's in training with Dan Skelton and is a hero. He's won six so far and is such a good servant.'

How did you know it was time to retire from race-riding?
I had a catalogue of injuries and that pushed me to retire a few years earlier than I anticipated. I found a change, bit the bullet and tried something new.'

What do you miss about being a jockey?
'I’ll always miss the adrenaline buzz and the camaraderie of the weighing room.'

How did you start up as an agent?
'I was lucky enough to have a few connections and five jockeys agreed to come with me initially and that was reason enough to give it a go.'

What’s the best part of being an agent?
'Watching one of my jockeys riding well, especially the younger lads and girls and seeing them progress. I'm still involved in the sport I love!'

The worst?
'It's very time consuming but I do not mind; the more you put in, the more you get out.'

Where would you like to be in ten years’ time?
'I like to think I’d still be in this position; still working hard, still enjoying what I'm doing and still having that good working rapport with trainers and jockeys. You can't ever stop striving for success.'