Popular former Adelaide jockey Scott Bailey is relishing his new role on the other side of the fence in Singapore.
Bailey, runner-up Dux of the 2009 SA Apprentice Academy, moved overseas in 2012 to work as the assistant trainer for Shane Baertschiger and is now one the key figures working as a Broadcaster for the Singapore Turf Club.
How are things in Singapore?
Obviously COVID has changed the world as we know it, things are OK here now.
How did you find yourself moving into the media?
I got a few months’ notice from that my job as an assistant trainer was coming to an end. Media was always something I wanted to get involved in and I thought now was the time.
Things have happened very quickly!?
I was thrown straight into it and had to learn quickly. The second week in the job was out biggest day of racing – The Kranji Mile. That was being broadcast to Hong Kong and a lot of other places around the world, so I had to learn quickly.
Also stepping into the role calling races, how was that?
I was straight in the deep end. It’s not something I thought I’d get into doing, don’t get me wrong, I always found it interesting. When I was a rider, we would muck around a bit in the room trying to call a race, but it’s quite tricky. It was part of me getting the job, they said they wanted another race caller here and I knew I was going to rusty with a lot to learn. Some guys get a couple of years calling the non-TAB and country meetings trying to fine tune their skills.
How did you find you first call?
It was different than most. My first race call was broadcast on the racing channel here, sky channel back home. There were a few butterflies beforehand that’s for sure. It wasn’t as bad as my first race ride, I remember I was shaking in the jockey’s room, but you wouldn’t human if you didn’t get nervous.
Any plans on coming home SA?
I’m married to a Singaporean Genevieve and I’m happy here now. But home is always home. We’d like to start a family here and I’d consider coming home at some stage.
And the state of racing in Singapore?
I’m lucky, Singapore racing is going to get back to the level it was at a few years ago and I want to be here to see that.
