A JOCKEY who’s won £14million on the track has been living a secret life off it – as a superstar DJ.
Top Australian rider Ben Allen is a Group 1 winner on the track but loves nothing more than spinning decks off it.
Oh, and he also loves looking for the cattle he bought on his farm.
And if some of the videos on social media are anything to go by, he even DJs to his cows. Yes, really…
With 615 wins under his belt, Allen rose to fame after his top tier triumph onboard Marabi at the 2022 Oakleigh Plate.
Victory in that was worth just under £250,000.
As a jockey he could expect to keep around £25,000 for his work in the saddle that day.
But rather than have his cash ‘just sitting in the bank’ – he spent it on 60 cows and indulging his other passion.
Explaining how he relaxes off the track, Allen, whose mates call him Whiz, told 7 Racing: “Cattle farming is something over the past few years that I have grown a fair interest in.
“I have always just seemed to enjoy just being around the cows.
Most read in Horse Racing
Two trainers investigated after horse backed from 28-1 to evens wins easily
Bash the bookies with three big prices at Newbury and Worcester
My NAP has been knocking on the door and his time has come
Fairytale Nunthorpe was a joy to behold but York deserves another Group 1
“I can get away from racing and come out here on my days off and do farm jobs.”
The combination of being a cattle farmer and DJ blowing away his mates with awesome sets might seem at odds with life as a jockey.
Horsemen tend to get up while it’s still dark to ride out for the day.
While DJs are only just getting the party going in the early hours.
But Allen has found a way to cope with both – because music was something he always loved.
He said: “I had my first gig around my 21st. It was always something I had wanted to do.”
Allen's passion for being a disk jockey has seen him play sets at well known Melbourne clubs such as Tramp, Bunny and Empire.
He added: “It’s just something I enjoy, and it’s always good fun if you get a good crowd.”
Racing is a notoriously tough sport, with jockeys fasting to make weight and constant dieting a part of life.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets (MOBILE ONLY)* – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org
William Hill: 18+. Pla18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code N40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. begambleaware.org
Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
And it’s one of the few jobs where an ambulance follows you round all day.
It means jockeys really have to savour the high to deal with the low, something Allen struggled with after his big Group 1 win.
Allen described feeling ‘sour’ after his win, with the notion of not having ‘much to look forward to’.
He added: “I ended up having about three or four months off racing, and I wasn’t sure if I would return and ride”.
Succeeding where others have struggled and turned to vices for help, Allen’s secret double life allowed him to ‘take his mind off’ work.
He said: “I’m not worrying about racing or worrying about if I’m getting on this horse or that horse.”
Read More on The Sun
I’m an ex-paramedic – the dangerous food that acts like a plug on a child’s airway
Peter Andre reveals sad ‘real reason’ he never has birthday parties
Not only has it led to him gaining a wealth of success in the saddle, but has also resulted in support from friends and followers.
A recent Instagram video has led to comments such as 'Fantastic! Legend!' and 'Great story'.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Source: Read Full Article
