Sarah “Ripper” Rippon is a video producer by trade – her company Rippervision being responsible for a range of activity from ads for Cheltenham racecourse, to TV highlights shows, to coverage of the Global Champions show jumping series.
She’s also been well known as an owner-trainer-rider on the pointing scene since riding her first winner on 15-year-old Metal Detector in 2012.
Jake Exelby spoke to this ebullient character recently, to get the lockdown lowdown…
How did you get into point-to-pointing?
I grew up in Whaddon Chase country – we lived in Little Horwood and the old point-to-point course went past our house. And I’d bunk off school to go to the Cheltenham Festival with my best friend!
After university, I joined the BHA graduate scheme, rode out for Venetia Williams, worked for David Redvers at Tweenhills Stud, then – after a brief spell as pupil-assistant for Richard Phillips – went to Charlie Longsdon’s. While I was there, I got Metal Detector – Paddy – from Kim Bailey. I paid £500 to charity for him and he lived in a stallion box at Charlie’s. He’s 24 now and still in a field – he’s such a dude.
Which jockeys do you most admire?
From the front or back (laughing hysterically)? That would be telling! Seriously, I admire anyone who rides over jumps – it’s easy to criticise until you’ve done it. I adore Davy Russell – how does he cope with the pressure of riding Tiger Roll in the National? And the ride David Bass gave First Flow at Ascot recently was amazing.
What are your favourite courses?
Barbury, not just because I live next to it (Sarah is based at Barbury Clerk of the Course John White’s Overtown Farm). It's a good track to ride, viewing is great for spectators and I’ve had quite a bit of success there.
What do you love most about pointing?
It’s a sport for everyone – whatever your role, owner, trainer or spectator. There’s something so grounding about splashing round a field on a horse. It’s also a puzzle – it challenges me all the time.
What has been the highlight of your time in pointing?
2012. I was working for Zara Phillips and she was trying to qualify for the Olympics while leading me round a muddy paddock. I rode my first winner that year and she made the three-day eventing team and won a silver medal.
What's been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
I went to Wadebridge one day to ride Good Egg and a woman greeted me with an enthusiastic “Welcome to Cornwall.” She took me on a tour of the weighing room, met my owners then asked if I’d talk to the BBC. Hang on a minute, I realised, she thinks I’m Victoria Pendleton!
What are your career ambitions?
My original ambition was to get round. When I did that, I wanted to ride a winner, then to ride in a hunter chase. Since then, I’ve ridden in both the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters. Now I’d like to get round Aintree and to ride a winner at Cheltenham.
What do you think about hunter chases with professional riders?
I’ve entered at least one of my two horses (Pass The Hat and Sonneofpresenting) in all the races so far. It’s painful that I can't ride myself but it gives me the chance to run them and it’s encouraging that the BHA obviously thinks hunter chases are important – it would have been easy to cancel them.
What do you think we should do with the rest of the pointing season?
Think outside the box. Use courses like Barbury that are ready to race and give grants to hunts that have lost their meetings.
How has lockdown affected you personally?
My business has taken a massive hit – a lot of it is events-based – but I’m trying to sit it out and have set up another company, Bloodstock Interactive, to make sales videos at competitive rates.
I’ve been riding out yearlings for Hetta Stevens and what I was doing for beer money is now an income stream! Then in the summer, I started working on a farm – I learned to drive tractors, move cattle and fix fencing. It was fun!
What do you think its effect on pointing will be?
I hope it’s short-, rather than long-term. I really worry about pointing in Ireland – if there’s no racing, it could be catastrophic for these yards full of young horses.
What would you do if you were in charge of point-to-pointing?
I’d like to see a lot more parties. We should celebrate at the start, in the middle and at the end of the day! And I’d try to get more young people involved – I think Cocklebarrow is doing a great job in this.
Tell me about the TV, films and books you’ve enjoyed?
Like everyone else, I’ve completed Netflix and Amazon Prime! I’ve been watching old movies like Casablanca and comedies like Men Behaving Badly, and I enjoyed Bridgerton.
John (White) keeps throwing books at me and the best I’ve read is They’re Off, by Anne Alcock, about the first female jump jockeys – his wife Rosemary is in it. I also listen to audiobooks, most recently Green Lights, Matthew McConaughey’s autobiography.
Have you enjoyed anything else about lockdown?
Life on the farm and learning about wildlife – I’m glad I haven’t been living in a flat in London. I’ve also joined a blues-rock band… as a doo-wop singer!
What would you be doing if you weren't involved in racing and TV production?
I loved acting at school and used to work as an extra on film sets. I’ve also started doing more in front of the camera, and really enjoy interviewing, so maybe I’d be on the stage!
Who are your non-racing heroes?
John Whitaker, absolutely. I’ve interviewed him so many times and he just turns up in his shirtsleeves with a pint. He grew up watching show jumping on Grandstand and he’s still doing it now. Everyone (in age), from Ludger Beerbaum to Jesse Springsteen, says he’s their idol.
What is your life ambition?
I play polo once a year and lady polo players are starting to get a higher profile, like they are in racing. So I’d like to play Ladies High Goal polo – it’s the elite level.