Michael Owen made his riding debut at Ascot on Friday afternoon. Owen took part in The Prince's Countryside Fund Charity Race which went off at 12:15.
The former England international finished second in the 7f flat race aboard Calder Prince in what was his first ever public ride. Owen, who is also an owner, had never ridden a horse prior to this year. He lost two stone to make weight for the event.
Tom Chatfield-Roberts and Golden Wedding get the better of @themichaelowen & Calder Prince in The Prince's Countryside Find Charity Race @Ascot. pic.twitter.com/CkfbzpISwk
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) November 24, 2017
"I can't keep the smile off my face - I loved it. Better than I expected, I must admit. We seemed to go really quick early on and I thought, 'Wow, no one can keep this up.' That was the fastest I've ever been on a horse," Owen told Racing UK.
"Then it felt like the horse slowed up into the bend but whipped up on the inside and all of a sudden I was in front and I was thinking, 'Come on now.' That was a long straight and I got very tired in the last furlong."
"It was better than I expected." - @themichaelowen says he loved riding in The Prince's Countryside Fund Charity Race @Ascot and wants to ride in a Charity race again. pic.twitter.com/9AuumwVaa5
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) November 24, 2017
