They didn`t call him �Big Race Bert` for nothing in the days when our Personality of the Week was a jockey. Five wins in what is now the J & B Met and three in the former Rothmans July says enough! Part of a legendary team with the great trainer Syd Laird, Bertie enjoyed the kind of success in the saddle which most jockeys can only dream of. Now himself a member of the training ranks, Hayden continues to send out a steady stream of winners from only a limited string of horses. There are not many with the experience and talent of Bertie and anyone looking at investing in this wonderful sport should take advantage of his great horsemanship. Lennon Maharaj spoke to Bertie.

Single/married? Single-divorced with two sons, Dean and Des Hayden.

Where do you live? Ashburton. I drive a Mercedes 200.

When and how did you first get involved in racing? Tell us a bit about your background. I was an apprentice jockey in 1960. My late dad, Bert Snr. was also a jockey but he gave it up because he was getting heavy. I was apprenticed to Robert Jackson in my first year and was champion apprentice in my third year. I joined the late Tiger Wright`s stable for two years thereafter. I then moved to Cape Town where I had a lot of success with trainer Alec Soteriadis. I also rode a lot of winners for trainers Theo de Klerk and Willie Kleb. In 1971 after running second to Syd Laird`s Mazarin in the Derby, I was asked by the man known as �The Bear` to join his stable in Natal. The main idea was to bring me into the equation because his stable jockey, Robbie Sivewright, was not able to make the weight in the July.

What happened after that? I won my first July aboard Mazarin. In time to come my tally of July wins would be three and I have also ridden five J&B Met winners!

Is this how you came to be known as �Big Race Bert`? Yes but unfortunately I stopped riding in 1991 after a recurring back injury and decided to take up training.

Who has influenced you throughout your career? When you are young and high, it is most important to grow and learn in the right way. Tiger Wright in those early years gave me loads of advice, he was a big influence.

Which trainers did you assist before taking out your licence? I was stable employee to the late Michael Roberts. Thereafter I did train in Randjiesfontein but moved back to KZN because I preferred the coast and the altitude.

What is your favourite/least favourite characteristic of racing? The horses. I fell off my first racehorse at the age of three; I have all types of pets at home and love animals. I would say the negative image that racing has carried is the worst characteristic, this shouldn`t be.

Favourite racecourse and why? Greyville for the obvious reason - winning all those �Julys` and Kenilworth although I have ridden on most of South Africa`s racecourses and like them all.

Tell us about your first winner and your first feature race winner. My first winner was a horse called Copper Rule for my first boss, the late Robert Jackson. The horse was No.13, drawn 13 and carried six stone thirteen. Thirteen is one of my lucky numbers.

Tell us about your current string. Although I`ve got quite a small string, the winners seem to come quite consistently. Far Under Par is a nice sort and more improvement is expected as I don`t push my youngsters too hard. Steven Charles is useful and has done very well to date. He was not disgraced in his last start and was probably a bit outclassed in that field. Name The Key has had a great season so far and is a �July` hopeful. I`ve also got quite a few nice unraced juveniles.

Tell us about your current training base. Would you ever move? No, I`ve always enjoyed KwaZulu-Natal. I prefer Ashburton to Summerveld though.

The helping hands in your team? No, I don`t have an assistant. I`ve got three workriders and I am with my horses seven days a week.

What features have you won as a trainer/jockey so far? As a jockey I won the July aboard Mazarin in 71, Yataghan in 73 and Politician in 78. I won the Met aboard Force Ten, Yataghan, Bahadur and Politician twice. As a trainer I won a juvenile feature with a horse called Devilish Doll, Muis Roberts won on Beat The Breeze for me in another feature, Mr Steadfast won the Umgeni Handicap, Name The Key won both the Michael Roberts and Christmas Handicaps, Steven Charles won a feature at Clairwood, and most recently Far Under Par won the Godolphin Barb.

What are your impressions of the Merit Rating system? In my opinion it`s not a very good system. It`s very harsh on young horses that have ability. If a one time winner for example runs well in a feature, the horse is then heavily penalized and may battle to win again as a result. I think that horses improve with every victory and asking one or two time winners to concede weight to proven handicappers can ruin their career.

What do you do in your spare time, what are your hobbies outside of racing? I love Ski-Boat Fishing. My biggest catches, a Barracuda and a Musselcracker were both South African records, one of which still stands. I once caught a Marlin in Mauritius.

Tell us about your long-standing patrons. I have got loyal patrons and I get on well with them. I`d like to thank them for their support.

What pedigrees do you look for at the sales? All sorts but I really like working with good staying pedigrees.

Best day`s racing? You never forget your first July win but I also won five of the eight races carded at Milnerton one day, ran second in two and third in the other. I`m one of a few that have won all legs of the Jackpot as a jockey.

How can we help punters, any advice for punters? Under Starters Orders on Tellytrack provides great info for punters. I`ve only been interviewed once on the show and gave viewers confidence in my horse and it duly arrived. I feel that Tellytrack should interview the smaller yards more often.

Do you think that the standards of training are advancing? Things have certainly changed with regards to training horses. Today`s horses, it seems are not as tough as the horses of yesteryear. I do not push my horses too hard. It`s like owning a car, not pushing a car too hard will prolong its life.

Tell us about your weekend runners.

Name The Key � His last run was very disappointing but he was found to be coughing and had a virus. He`s well and hopefully he`ll be back to his best this time.

Goyougoodthinggo � Haven`t had him for long, he works better than a one time winner but he does have a very high merit rating.

Classic Day � She`s well and ready, should win soon.
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