Today, August 5th, one of the greatest riders of all time, Great Britain’s John Whitaker, celebrates his 60th birthday, a milestone which does not signal retirement for the indefatigable champion – far from it. In February this year, Whitaker returned to his winning ways, clinching a 5-star Grand Prix victory in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong with Argento, a horse that he has trained himself since he was young. This victory was the first step toward a Masters Grand Slam for the British rider, who has just been confirmed to participate in the American leg of the Longines Masters from October 1st to 4th in hopes of winning the Los Angeles Longines Grand Prix and the €500,000 bonus it would earn him. Happy Birthday from the Longines Masters!
But is it really money that drives this exceptional rider? We’re not so sure: John is, above all, a player, a sportsman. His goal at sixty? “My main aim is to take pleasure in my sport. It’s great to climb back up the world rankings like this (he re-entered the top 20 in July), and I want to continue on that path, try to go even further and last a few more years. Instead of focusing on a specific victory, besides Los Angeles in October, I would rather be consistent from week to week. I don’t aim to win at all costs: above all, I want to remain at this level and continue to progress. It’s so difficult today because there are lots of very good riders and very good horses; the level is very high. I’m just happy that I can still compete against those very good riders… and sometimes, I even beat them. I love doing what I do, and winning is a bonus. But so long as I can pay my bills and stay at this level, I’m happy.”
When asked, the great riders of today often name John Whitaker as an inspiration for his natural riding, his instinct, his feel for victory and his relationship with horses. European Champion in 1989 and two-time winner of the World Cup in 1990 and 1991 with Milton, John Whitaker was the center of the equestrian world in the 90s, and World no.1 for many months. One reason for this can be attributed to Milton. You could spot the horse a mile away by his remarkable charisma, attitude and beauty. Every one of his performances was a moment of grace. “Milton was exceptional – the horse of a lifetime,” remembers John. “Milton was a dream horse, beyond his jumping style, his coat, his temperament… He had everything, and he was generous, you never needed to force him. He was always responsive to his rider and tried to help.” Today, Whitaker has Argento, a horse that he trained himself and has brought gradually to a high level. “An endearing stallion who always thinks he can do whatever he likes… he really does have bad manners. But he’s a real personality. At work and at home, he gets lazy quickly and after a couple of minutes, it’s hard to get him to move. But in competitions, he’s like a different horse, very involved. In the ring, he does his job without holding back. He’s focused and alert, and he wants to do well. The rest of the time, I must admit, he makes things tough!”
It was with Argento that John burst back onto the world stage, and it was on the Asian leg of the Longines Masters, in Hong Kong, that he sealed his comeback with a first Longines Grand Prix win, paving the way towards the million-euro Masters Grand Slam bonus. Next stop, Los Angeles: “Of course I’m going! That’s the first thing to do, actually: if I want to win the L.A. Longines Grand Prix, I’ll need to be there, at the very least.”
From: Diane Prouhet – Agence R&B Presse
