BOBBY EL-ISSA - IN HIS OWN WORDS

When the first month of the new season came to an end and Bobby El-Issa’s name was on top of the Jockey’s Premiership, I thought it would be an opportune time to get his point of view on his life in racing.

Certainly there have always been enough stories and commentary doing the rounds among race-goers about the life and times of Bobby El-Issa – much of it negative - but never any direct comment from the man himself.

I have no brief with El-Issa, for or against, but, in fairness, I thought he deserved the opportunity to address some of those issues.

So I asked El-Issa for an interview, which he granted.

It is important to note that the interview was completed before the unfortunate events of the last week, which have once again propelled El-Issa’s name into the headlines.

None of his commentary is therefore in any way related to any charges laid or investigations currently under way into his riding over the last seven days - and it is important to note that fact.

In the knowledge that El-Issa has such a polarising effect on the racing fraternity, the following piece is purposely published in El-Issa’s own words, without any other commentary, to ensure that it remains true to the essence of the interview.

Here it is then, in its original form, Horse Racing Only’s exclusive interview with Bobby El-Issa.


Love him or hate him, support him or dismiss him, believe him or disbelieve his words ... it’s all the same to Bobby El-Issa. At best he is a free spirit. At worst he is out of control. The views expressed here have never been published before. It is the view from El-Issa’s own perspective, in his own words.


El-Issa on winning:
“People are calling me and asking ‘what’s happened, what changed’, just because I’m suddenly riding more winners.

“They sort of imply that I must have made some drastic change in my lifestyle or something, which is nonsense.

“I’m riding the same as I always have ... but it’s all got to do with the cattle. I’m just riding better cattle. All your results depend on the cattle.

“I have changed managers, so that would be the change people are looking for. I started with a management group about a month ago.

"They are very good guys. They have a better rapport with the owners and some other trainers than I have, that’s why the better rides are rolling in ... and that’s the only reason I getting more winners. I’m riding the same as I always have, just getting better cattle”


El-Issa on his riding strengths:
“Like a lot of things in life, riding is a confidence game and I’ve never been short of that.

“Sure the winners help but I believe I’m in the top three in terms of the best lightweight jockeys in Australia and I’m also one of the strongest lightweights around.

“I was a champion apprentice, you know. I’ve always been good so confidence has never been a problem for me.”


El-Issa on his disciplinary record:
“That has been a problem for me. It shocking. My record is absolutely shocking.

" I’ve been charged with everything from riding indiscretions, to bad behaviour to, even dress code.

“Does my dress code look bad to you?

“I think I’m never wrong ... ok, I made a mistake with the drug thing, but lots of people have done that.

“I appreciate the stewards have a job to do but I do think that sometimes, whether they realise it or not, they can set themselves up against you and chase you up on every little thing.

“I appealed successfully many times against their findings, I’ve think I’ve won last five times they’ve taken me on. But people always seem to hear about the charge against you and not so much about the appeal verdict. But that’s life.

“Yeah my record is bad though. Can’t change it, and really wouldn’t have changed any of my actions even if I could.”


El-Issa on challenging authority:
“That’s just a perception that people have about me, but I don’t set out on any given day with the intention of giving the stewards a hard time.

“What does happen is, I’m not just going to sit back and cop it if they do come after me.

“There is no reason for me to go and hide away in a box.

"I have a natural reaction to stand up for myself. I’m not going to be an easy target. I have my say back, which not everybody does. That marks me as being different but, like I said, I win a lot of the arguments so why back off without stating your case. I’m just not going to do that.

“You know, and please I don’t mean this badly, but I’m thirty-two years old. I’ve been riding all my life and sometimes I’m faced with a steward, who is twenty something years old and who has never ridden, trying to tell me how to ride.

“In some of those situations, he and his colleagues, are going to decide whether I will be allowed to earn an income for the next couple of weeks.

"I know the stewards have training and all of that, but wouldn’t you find that a frustrating situation. I do ... and sometimes it shows ... but that is just me.

“I don’t find all the off-track stuff a distraction. I’m used to it anyway, but in any case I’m professional enough not to let it affect me.


El-Issa on his acceptance by the greater racing fraternity:
“I get on well with say eight out of every ten people in racing. I should say I’m friendly with eight out of ten people, but I’m not friends with many of those away from the track.

“The issue is those two people who have a problem with me talk about me to others, who then gain a negative opinion of me.

"They don’t even know me at all so why would they formulate a bad opinion of me?

“My friends are not racing people.

"They are footballers and the like, you know, people with lives away from racing who really understand me and accept me for who I am and don’t try to make me fit into some mould.

“I know I’m different to what racing authorities expect.

“What I can’t understand is why racing has to be so serious all of the time. I know it is a serious business and there is a time to be serious, but, all of the time ... come on!

“So I’m different. I like to enjoy life a bit. I’ll smile. I’ll say something offbeat. I act different from the majority ... but why should that make me a target.

"I can’t answer you, but I do know it does.

“Anyway, people better get used to it. I’m pleased I’ve got a bit a character. I’m been this way forever and I’m not going to change for anybody.”


On crowd support:
“Oh, the section of the crowd that sang happy birthday to me at the Sunshine Coast were my mates out for the day. The other day girls wanted a picture with me after a Doomben win. I don’t know who they were.

“Yeah, it is good to have that sort of following. It’s nice to get the crowd involved. I enjoy it when they call out to me when I’m taking a horse out onto the track ... and I can see that other race-goers are enjoying it too.

“That’s what it’s all about isn’t it. Enjoying yourself. That’s what I try to do.”


On the future:
“I know there will always be the doubters out there as to whether I can keep this run going ... or whether I’m good enough ... or whatever. Always have been. Always will be.

"They don’t concern me. Like I said, I’m not going to change for anybody. I’m just going to carry on doing things my way. The future will take care of itself.”

El-Issa currently leads the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership ladder after the first month of the 2008/09 season.


Well that was the interview given by El-Issa at the end of August, when his future had a bit more of a glow than it does today.

El-Issa’s handling of Miss Twist at Doomben on Wednesday is currently under investigation.

His riding of My First Affair at Eagle Farm on Saturday led him being charged with failing to ride his mount out to the line.

El-Issa was found guilty under rule AR137b. Stewards, in assessing the penalty, were of the opinion that El-Issa’s actions cost My First Affair the race.

El-Issa was suspended for a period of two months.

The Miss Twist issue is still pending.