Whyte says 'bye' to Happy Valley
Multiple champion rakes in 572 winners at city track
It was after 11pm when Douglas Whyte walked quietly away from his final night as a jockey at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
The brilliant lights which illuminated so many of his 572 successes at the world's most famous city track had dimmed but nothing could extinguish the vivid memories of an evening in which racing fans, young and old, saluted the most dominant rider in Hong Kong racing history.
"I'm going to miss the electricity of Happy Valley," he said. "It's been a long time and it's moulded into me now - it's in my blood."
Whyte came into his Valley swansong unsure about how he would feel on his final night but one thing that was never in doubt was the warmth of the welcome awaiting him.
Veteran Hong Kong punters jostled for room at the far end of the paddock to get a final Valley glimpse of the man who has been a constant in their racing lives for three decades.
Tipsy twentysomethings from all over the world gathered six deep on the rails of a packed Beer Garden to high-five a man who left South Africa to seek fame and fortune in Hong Kong before many of them were born.
Owners, trainers and officials all took their chance to wish him well as the evening progressed and Whyte's fellow riders - headed by Zac Purton and Joao Moreira - formed a guard of honour to welcome him back to the weighing room.
"It's very special for the boys to welcome me like that," he said.
"They are very tough competitors and for them to show their respect like that means a lot."
Cameras began to click as soon as Whyte weighed out for the first of his three rides on Iron Bravo in the Lambeth Handicap (1,200m) but Chris So's newcomer showed his inexperience in the paddock and could never land a major blow from midfield.
Good Omen looked Whyte's best chance of a winner in the Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup (1,800m) but could only stay on for fourth, while the dream of a winning finish came to nothing when California Gungho finished unplaced in the Club Street Handicap (1,000m).
As he trotted back to the paddock for the last time, Whyte blew kisses to his legion of fans. He said he would be leaving for the United Kingdom to understudy several trainers after Feb 10. He has been granted a trainer's licence and will start when the new Hong Kong season begins in September. - HKJC
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
