Chad Schofield, the son of Glyn, took the Sydney Apprentice Championship in his first full year of riding.
The South African born rider, like his famous father, is an asset to race riding where ever he goes and is a serious loss to the riding ranks in South Africa now that both father and son are plying their trade in Australia, based in Sydney.
The former Clifton Collage boy is dedicated and professional and he could not have been mentored by two better technicians of race riding in the form of his father and star ex-jockey turned world class champion trainer in the form of David Payne, for whom he is apprenticed to.
Chad is 18 years of age and weighs 47kg. His total riding statistics were 687 race rides, 76 winners, 239 placings (1st, 2nd or 3rd).
SAHorseracing.COM spoke to father Glyn Schofield who was naturally pleased with his son efforts.
"Of those stats he rode 40 winners in the Metropolitan area from 386 rides and 131 placings and won the Metropolitan Apprentice Premiership with those 40 winners. Second placed apprentice was with 25 wins," mentioned Glyn.
"As I'm sure you are aware, in Australia, huge emphasis is placed on the Metropolitan racing which is where all the big prize money and best horses, jockeys and trainers compete. So for him to win it in his first full season is an achievement we are extremely proud of while only 4 others have achieved it in their 2nd season. The second tier is Provincial racing then below that is Country racing. Saturday metro prize money in Sydney is $85,000 a race and $35,000 for midweek metro races. These races are commonly referred to as "City" races," he explained.
"Provincial prize money is $22,000 and Country $15,000. Of course the calibre of horse drops as you go from city down to provincials and then country, so this gives all horse types and their connections an opportunity to earn money and of course they compete against their own ability wise. So if you compared it to SA, horses that get sent to P.E or Kimberley and are lost to the Durban horse population, would in fact stay in Durban and compete at a provincial grade meeting midweek and instead of getting beat by all the decent horses, they earn a cheque," said Glyn.
To cap a wonderful start to race riding, Chad Schofield was second in the New South Wales apprentice title to Leeton-based John Kissick. Kissick rode 83 winners to beat Sydney's leading apprentices Schofield (76) and Sam Clipperton (70) for the provincial title.
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