Since joining the Jockey Club's Apprentice School at the age of 14, riding has been Matthew Chadwick's life. He is now a 20-year-old professional jockey, working under contract at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Born in Hong Kong, Chadwick was adopted as a baby by British parents. They lived in Singapore and Malaysia before returning to Hong Kong in time for Chadwick to start his last year of primary school. He left in the middle of Form Four after being offered a place at the Apprentice School and convincing his parents it was what he really wanted.
Chadwick has a swathe of high-profile wins under his belt. He was champion apprentice jockey of the 2008-2009 racing season, and claimed 48 winners and ranked fourth in the jockeys' premiership in the 2009-2010 season. As of last week, prize money won by him has reached more than HK$87 million in Hong Kong and AU$184,550 (HK$1.5 million) in Australia.
When did you first get on a horse?
I would have been around seven, in Malaysia. It was just the family going for a day out. That's how it started. It probably would have been a Shetland pony. I enjoyed it. I love animals. It just went on from there.
What was life like at the Apprentice School?
At the beginning, it was a lot of fitness, riding, and hands-on work with the horses - looking after them, grooming them, cleaning them - just everyday work. They were very strict on all of us, and every morning we'd get weighed and they'd keep a check on us. That was only when we first came here, because we were all very young. As you progress, we'd end up in the jockeys' room and you get to see what they do and help them out. It's all a part of the experience - getting to know how they work and their lives. That's what every jockey does all his life - take a bit of everything from everyone to improve, on and off the racecourse. It's the same in everyday life, really.