Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador Profile – Anthony Delpech
Everything you need to know about Hollywoodbets' Brand Ambassador, Anthony Delpech.
Anthony Delpech - Bonji
After more than two years away from horse racing, Anthony Delpech was announced as a Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador in 2020, and would later go on to become the Hollywood Syndicate’s Racing Manager.
Delpech, who won the South African Jockeys Championship three times, was involved in a career-ending accident in 2018. He said that he was not mentally ready to do anything, but that all changed when Hollywoodbets came calling.
“It was a very difficult two years for me, I had to visit a sports psychologist to decide what I wanted to do in my life going forward and I’m glad Hollywoodbets gave me an opportunity to come back into racing.
The former jockey who has over 30 years of experience in the racing industry, said that he hoped to give some of his knowledge back to horse racing and he sure did as he has now delivered three Grade 1s and the KZN Champion Owners title to the trophy cabinet as the Hollywood Syndicate’s Racing Manager.
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥'𝐬 𝐎𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲 👇
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 9, 2023
Anthony Delpech shares his emotional journey to horse racing stardom and the adversity he has had to overcome 🏇
📺 Variety 4 | 20:00 (CAT) pic.twitter.com/mqRmydjhHz
Delpech who was born in Seychelles came to South Africa to study at the age of 13, he didn’t know a word of English and ironically, he didn’t even know what a jockey was.
“Everyone at school told me that I must become a jockey because I was so short and I didn’t even know what that was at the time. I went home and asked my dad about it, he then showed me what horse racing is about and I started to enjoy watching it,” Delpech added.
Delpech eventually applied to the South African Jockey Academy and got accepted at the age of 15. He won his first race a year later for trainer Colin Lee aboard a horse named Trasher at Clairwood Racecourse.
The man, who was given the nickname ‘Bonji’ in his apprentice days due to French being his home language, achieved many tremendous highs when aboard racehorses all over the world.
“Winning the July which is South Africa’s Premier Race four times will always be close to my heart and winning the Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night aboard Vengeance Of Rain was the international highlight of my career.”
In 2005, Vengeance Of Rain won the Hong Kong Derby under Anthony Delpech. Over the next 12 months, the David Ferraris-trained galloper would win the QE II Cup and the Hong Kong Cup, while he also won the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2007 #HKDerby #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/KlgPZDB9Yg
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 13, 2018
