Just three weeks ago if you asked the most avid race fan who would win the jockeys’ championship, the answer would have been easy. For sure the response would be Omar Walker.

Fast-forward to today and ask the same question. That same avid race fan would now take time to think before replying, “Well, maybe Omar (Walker), but the champion Dane (Nelson) has a live chance.”

Such is the glorious nature of the sport we know as horse racing. Walker and Nelson have unwittingly conspired to breathe life into the championship which looked over and done in Walker’s favour. Nelson is currently on fire, riding doubles and triples at will, while for the last three race meetings Walker has been unusually dormant: he hasn’t ridden a winner, which is very strange for him.

Now a seemingly big lead has been eroded, and with two and a half months to go with a total of 16 racedays listed as left on the racing calendar, Walker leads Nelson by only six wins, 84 to 78. Already the supporting camps for both riders have been ramping up the intrigue and the talk. Those not glued to any one rider are enjoying the new – found life breathed who the championship. For the promoting company this non-existent rivalry, now turned into a battle for riders’ honours, is almost like a dream. There is nothing better than having the two leading riders in the land go head to head in their quest to be victorious; such is the nature of the sport we are dealing with and it also gives the promoters a chance to hype up the action.

Walker is the first rider in our history to reach 700 winners in so short a time, which is quite an achievement. He has the backing of the Gary Subratie barn where he is the stable jockey. Walker, one suspects mainly through the work of his agent, is able to command rides from a wide cross section of trainers.

On the other hand Nelson, can be classified as a freelancer who has no real ties with any one trainer. In the past, he was connected with champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and was assured of the majority of winners but that situation has changed, and although he still rides for DaCosta it is not with the same frequency.

Whatever the outcome of this rejuvenated rivalry involving Walker and Nelson, the main beneficiary will be the racing public. Good luck to Mr Walker and Mr Nelson.