|12.30.2022|10:33am
William Buick has rounded off a memorable year by emphatically landing Britain’s Annual Flat Jockeys’ title for the first time in his career.
The award is based on the number of winners ridden during a calendar year and Buick, 34, has comfortably eclipsed his rivals thus far with an eye-watering 200 winners from 746 rides with a strike rate of 27 percent. With just two days of racing to go, he is ahead of Hollie Doyle in second place by 50 winners. David Probert (144 wins), Daniel Muscutt (127) and Tom Marquand (126) make up the top five.
The Norwegian-born Buick has had his best year ever, breaking personal bests for annual winners, strike rate (27%), and total earnings – £6,748,105
(as of before racing on Dec. 30). He reached 200 winners in a season for the first time with victory yesterday (Dec. 29) aboard Zealot for trainer Mick Appleby at Southwell. Buick also stormed to victory in the Flat Jockeys’ Championship, lifting the trophy for the first time at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.
Buick said: “I’m grateful to all the owners and trainers who have supported me throughout the year and my agent (Tony Hind) has worked incredibly
hard all season. It was great to win the Championship but also to finish the year as the winning-most jockey is fantastic. It’s a credit to all the hard work from everyone that’s part of the team.”
Other highlights from Buick’s year include scoring his first ever five-timer in a single meeting, which he achieved at Newmarket Racecourse (July)
on July 16. Not resting on his laurels, he then followed it up with another six weeks later, on Aug. 27 at Goodwood Racecourse.
This year Buick has provided winners for 38 trainers, including ten winners for Andrew Balding followed by 24 for George Boughey, however his partnership with Charlie Appleby has continued to provide the biggest successes. The pair enjoyed 89 winners together this year and Appleby won his second consecutive Flat Trainers’ Championship, while Godolphin also won the Flat Owners’ Championship.
Buick’s success has not been contained to Britain. He is also a star of the international stage, enjoying winners this year in Germany, Dubai and
the US, where he won both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Mischief Magic) and the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Modern Games) for Appleby.
