KEY POINTS:
Jockeys love golf. It's their greatest relaxation away from the hustle of big-money racedays and it just happens that a lot of them are very good at it.
Three of New Zealand's leading jockeys, Jason Waddell, Leith Innes and Michael Coleman, combined to win the racing charity tournament in Christchurch last week hosted by Tiger Woods' caddy Steve Williams.
Williams, in New Zealand for a short break, went one hole with each four in the tournament, organised by the Steve Williams Trust, which raises money for areas in New Zealand that have no golf teaching facilities for youngsters. Fellow jockey David Walsh came away with one of the better prizes, a golf ball Tiger Woods has used, which has been monogrammed by the great player.
Walsh was presented with the ball for being closest to the pin on one of the Clearwater par 3s.
"Steve Williams was with our four for the hole and I was determined not to stuff it up.
"I hit a three wood into the wind and it landed a tick over four foot from the pin.
"There were high fives when I slotted it for a birdie.
"The Tiger Woods ball will look good on the wall when I get it framed."
The winning four each received a T-shirt autographed by Tiger Woods.
If you think jockeys have cost you money from time to time on the tracetrack, then don't make it worse by playing them at golf.
You're liable to run second, and in some cases probably not a very good second.
Comeback Waikato jockey Jason Waddell, a top all-round sportsman, plays off an eight handicap, but says he doesn't get the time to play as often as he'd like since he resumed his riding career this season after a year on the sideline.
"I was playing close enough to scratch golf when I had my time off because I was playing nearly every day."
Playing someone who is capable of shooting a 72-73 on a good day off an eight handicap is tougher than picking the Melbourne Cup winner a year out.
Stay away.
You're better off putting your money on something at Ellerslie today.
* Michael Coleman will be riding at Ellerslie today after having to stand down from Matamata races on Thursday because of a serious stomach virus.
"It was pretty bad," said a much-relieved Coleman yesterday.
"I lost 3kg in fluid, but I'm a lot better today."
