The Master Valet

Chris Maude, 48, on bellyaching laughs and providing an ear for jockeys when the chips are down

VALETS are basically the backroom boys.

We carry all the jockeys’ kit to the various race meetings every day, so that when they arrive, their breeches, boots, saddle and silks are all in the right place. People are often surprised to hear that most jockeys wear tights under their breeches! At the end of the day, when it’s all covered in mud, we make sure we get it to the correct race meeting the next day. We get to the racecourse around four hours before the first race, and a typical day can be 12 to 14 hours long. But I’m used to it — it’s a way of life.

I was a pretty average jump jockey and had no idea what I wanted to do next

I just knew I didn’t want to be a trainer because I’d seen other jockeys go into training and lose all the money that they’d won racing. John Buckingham — who was famous for winning the 1967 Grand National on the 100/1 Foinavon — used to valet for me, and the opportunity came up for me to buy his business in 2001, so I took it.