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More Letters
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More of your letters, Including this one from Leighton:
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Dear John,
Everyday since the announcement I've been inundated with messages and phone calls of dis-belief but support. Each hour I'm up and down with both excitement for the future but sadness that a part of my life is over.
However I had 15 years as a jockey and loved it very much, and to get paid to do something you love is just fantastic and as much as I appreciate now i'm sure in time I'll fully realise how lucky I was.
The past few seasons even though my best were becoming increasingly hard to enjoy and with constant demand on you through competitiveness and all the long hours plus miles and with my first child on the way I couldn't bring it into a world where I was unhappy and possibly effect us all forever.
I've really enjoyed the fan club john, and could see in the magazine how much you and all the members enjoyed it too. Whether through results or jokes/letters there was always something there to bring a lighthearted look at life and racing.
As for the future I've got a few ideas in my head and have sent out some feelers to hopefully help me choose correctly.
This is all I know and done since I left school so hopefully a job will appear within the industry that I enjoy.
Racing is a drug and I'm sure like any addict I will miss riding for the daily injection of adrenaline, but I will be watching always and hope to enjoy many more years in racing somehow.
Well done with the fan club John.
Yours Gratefully - Leighton Aspell:
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Leighton Aspell, so popular a jockey that he has his own fan club, has told his regular trainers that he is giving up riding with immediate effect.
The reasons for his decision are unclear and the close knit jumping weighing room is bewildered. Aspell is only 31, relatively young by jump jockey standards, and showed no signs of decline when riding 54 winners last season. He was first jockey for Oliver Sherwood in Lambourn and Lucy Wadham in Newmarket, in addition to the Findon yard where he first came to prominence under Josh Gifford and josh'e successor Nick Gifford. Aspell won two Welsh nationals on Supreme Glory and L'Aventure. He also rode Supreme Glory to second place in the 2004 Grand National. In 2001 a group of racing followers in West Sussex set up the Leighton Aspell Fan Club, which now even sponsors an annual race at Fontwell.
Alan Lee - Times online.
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Hiya John
Thought it was about time I dropped you a line. I'm still reeling from the news of Leighton, and keep hoping I'm gonna hear that he's made a mistake and is returning to the game. I still look for his name in the paper too. Its like a bloody bereavement! Hope he's made the right decision and obviously I wish the little git every sucess in whatever he does next.
Many thanks to you John for the magazine and website. You've done a really good job. Its been informative and entertaining, but most of all, just great fun!!! Its been a pleasure and a privilige to be part of such a unique club.
All the best
Heatha. Vale of Glamorgam.
I was totally gutted to hear of Leighton's retirement, gutted in having that total sinking feeling and borderline depression!!
Tina.D. Kent.
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John,
My I say a big thank you to you and Leighton. I was not really into racing until I joined the fan club a couple of years ago on the recommendation of a friend. I became a big lover of jump racing through following Leighton Aspell, I can see why he had such a huge following. He was rarely on the fancied horses like the so called top jockeys, but on many occasion's he proved a cut above them. He was the best jockey to get the big priced horses home and without thrashing hell out of them like some of the other jockeys, He seemed to get the best out of moderate horses by the skill of coaxing horses home. I must admit I have lost interest in the game now he's retired. The fan club was just great, Honestly. I looked forward to the monthly magazine it was quite unique, Good info, very funny, and a bit close to the knuckle at times, but very very entertaining. I was saddned when Leighton packed up, Couldn't really believe it. But he must have his reason's. I wish I'm well whatever he may do in the future, and thank him for the pleasure he gave to me and the hundreds of fan club members over the years, and thank you john for all the hard work you did in keeping the fan club running so smoothly.
Kind Regards.
Emma. Nottinghamshire.
Not being involved in the racing game I can only tell it as a punter, whenever I backed Leighton I was 100% sure I would get the absolute maximum effort from him whether it was on a fancied or unfancied horse, and when you're laying out your hard earnt cash you could rely on him to give you a good run for your money. Good luck Leighton, I'm sure you will give your next project 110%.
The only problem I have now is what jockey do I risk my dough on now Leighton's not around.
All the best.
Wayne - Birmingham.
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Hi Fan Club.
Its a sad day now Leighton will not be seen on the race course no more. Although he rode mainly in the South, he did venture up North occationally to my local track,Market Rasen.
I am a regular visitor to Rasen and I have to say I will greatly miss Leighton riding here. He rode Market Rasen beter than anyone. This is a sad loss to horse racing.
Kind Regards
Mick. Lincs.
Dear John
You must be thriled with the success of the fan club and how it grew through the years. You must now be gutted it's all over. You couldn't have picked a better jockey to follow. I must admit I used to look out for McCoy or Murphy unit I became aware of the fan club. I thought a jockeys fan club must be a wind up. So I checked your website, Amazing there really was a fan club. I started to look out for Leighton's rides and before to long i realised what a great rider he really was. and may I add very profitable to my moderate stakes, especially with my each way punts on his big priced rides.I soon became a Aspell fan and joined the fan club about two years ago. The magazine was something else. I've never seen a magazine like it in my life, I had many a good laughs with it. Sadly its all over now. But I'd like to thank the fan club, and Leighton for the many winners he gave me, and last but not least Thank you john for all the work you put into the fan club, It's been Great fun.
Yours Gratefully.
Chris the Cab. Sussex.
Just a few of the many e-mails received by the fan club: Many thanks for your kind words - Honest John:
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