BILLY LOUGHNANE ain’t kidding when he says he wants to make history and become the youngest-ever champion jockey.
The 19-year-old has taken the sport by storm since bursting on to the scene as a wet- behind-the ears teenager.
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He booted home a Royal Ascot double last summer and is now George Boughey’s main man in Newmarket.
And super agent Tony Hind has been hired to take Billy The Kid’s career to the next level. Hind currently looks after the likes of Ryan Moore and Will Buick and previously helped Richard Hughes and Jim Crowley to the title.
There is no one better at helping a jockey become champion. Billy smiles: “I want to be champion jockey, one hundred per cent.
“I have to pinch myself a bit at times. I’ve not even been riding for three years so to be thinking of going for the championship is pretty crazy.
“But I think it’s realistic and I think I’ve got a chance. To have Tony as my agent is a privilege. He’s made nine champions in the past so hopefully it will soon be ten.
“I’ve been riding for two and a half years so, to even have my name up there, thinking about going for it is brilliant. I’m very lucky to have George Boughey as my boss, he’s great and I have a great selection of owners and trainers supporting me from all over the country. It should be a super exciting season.”
The bookies have the championship, which runs from today until Champions Day at Ascot in October, down to a straight shootout between Billy and Rossa Ryan.
Both are 2-1 with defending champion Oisin Murphy 11-4, Tom Marquand 6-1 and William Buick 7s. Both Murphy and Buick have hinted that their roles as retained riders to Qatar Racing and Godolphin will come first this season.
It leaves the door open for a new name to be etched on to the trophy. Billy added: “George has first dibs and that decides where I go. Then Tony will get the best rides he can for me around that.
“There will be times when George will let me ride elsewhere if I can get on a nice one — but it’s a long season. I managed 97 last year so I need to probably up that by at least 30 or 40 if it’s going to be realistic.
“Rossa is going to be tough to beat and I know Oisin says he’s not going for it this season but he will have a crack, trust me.”
Billy made a name for himself on the all-weather when riding winners for fun at just 16. He started out teaming up with his dad and trainer Mark, but was quickly snapped up by handlers up and down the land.
Punters even referred to his weight claim when an apprentice as a cheat code.
At the end of his first season he celebrated becoming champion apprentice and has not looked back.
A Royal Ascot double last season — on Rashabar in the Coventry and Soprano in the Sandringham — truly put him on the map on the big stage.
Then at the end of last year he spent two months in Australia and still flew back in time to be named all-weather champ.
Billy said: “Ascot was the best ever day I have had in racing.
“My parents were there to watch and to get that monkey off my back was amazing. Rashabar winning the Coventry was special. Many jockeys wait years for a Royal winner so it takes the pressure off.”
Billy was destined for the big time but still made sure to get his house in order at home.
Mum Clare ensured he aced his GCSEs at school before he took out his licence. He soon passed his driving test before flying the nest from his family home in Kidderminster to live with fellow jockey Jonny Peate in Newmarket.
It all happened at the speed of light but he has stayed grounded.
Billy said: “I’ve got a lot of help around me. Even in the weighing room a lot of the jockeys have been great.
“I don’t want to single them out but I sit next to Oisin most days and he’s great — then Will Buick and Ryan Moore have always helped. It’s not like the old days of the weighing room, everyone is open and honest.
“I still see my mates back home when I can, though it gets hard as I’m so busy. Not many of them like racing, they think it’s a bit weird, but they’re following my career and they find it fascinating.
“A lot of them have done well at school and gone off to university, it’s a different world!”
Billy will clock up the miles in the car in his pursuit of his big goal this season and he’s looking up to an all time great.
Billy said: “AP McCoy was my inspiration growing up. I know he’s a jumps man but what he did was unbelievable.
“His drive was crazy. I really respect him. He went everywhere for a winner and I’m going to have to do that if I want to lift the trophy.”
Young gun Billy rarely gets much downtime. He’ll ride out most mornings in Newmarket and will hit the gym before jumping in the car to ride here, there and everywhere.
Yet the youngster has already picked up one hobby that gets competitive in the weighing room. Billy said: “I’ve started playing golf — though I don’t really have the patience for it!
“It’s not an easy sport to pick up but it’s nice to get out. I’m trying to get better but I need more time on the range! I like Formula 1 too. The Netflix documentary got me into it and I tune in when I can.”
If Billy makes history this season he might well need a documentary of his own.
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