Chief Stipe Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 Jockeys Could WA Covid mandates force retirement of Willie Pike? ‘Wizard of the West’ Willie Pike is uncertain about his future in the face of WA Covid mandates. Picture: Nigel Halett By Nicholas Hluchaniuk07:03pm • 01 January 2022 Comments William Pike was forced to forgo his ride in the Perth Cup on New Year’s Day due to Covid protocols and Western Australia’s leading rider has admitted the requirement to be double vaccinated could result in his premature retirement. Pike has spoken publicly for the first time on his vaccination status in an interview with Freedom Media WA. In the lengthy interview, Pike said there was uncertainty going forward given participants will be required to be double vaccinated come February 5, with those protocols having been enforced for the Perth Cup card at Ascot on New Year’s Day “My future is very uncertain right now. I really don’t know what my future’s going to be like,” Pike said. “I would love to keep riding. I would love to stay on top for as long as I can until one of the young guns come along and boot me off my perch. “I really don’t want to leave it, but under the circumstances right now with the rules and different things in place, it’s getting harder and harder to go out and do my daily job.” Pike has stayed quiet over the past month about his vaccination status as rumours circled. Willie Pike in action on Arcadia Queen winning the 2020 Caulfield Stakes. Picture: George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos via Getty Images He said he was disappointed that media had already run stories on his situation. “The mainstream media has a way of twisting words and leading up to this, I didn’t want to comment, I wanted to make sure I had my story straight and they (the media) went and posted things anyway and I thought that was a bit out of line. “I wanted my story and my reasons told factually. “I didn’t want to get a headline out there that makes some guy in an office get a smug smile on his face.” Pike also expanded on why he was yet to be vaccinated. “I suppose at one point they were touting a digital passport just so you can get into restaurants and whatnot. It‘s how the future’s going to be they say. Well I don’t see how that can be acceptable. You want to go to a restaurant and have a nice meal, why should you have to worry about giving out all your details?” “For me as an athlete as well, health implications definitely have a play in it. The vaccines came around really quickly, how did it get here so quick? I just had questions and it doesn’t feel like we’ve had the time to digest it and take it all on board in an intelligent way.” For the full Willie Pike YouTube interview with Freedom Media WA: WA's TOP Jockey WILLIAM PIKE tells his STORY about missing the 2022 Perth Cup. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Obviously a simple soul who spends too much time following the wrong social media. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KickintheKods Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 He has the choice to do whatever he wants to, just like you do. An extremely talented hoop who seemingly has a brain. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted January 2, 2022 Author Share Posted January 2, 2022 2 hours ago, KickintheKods said: He has the choice to do whatever he wants to, just like you do. Except he wants to keep riding but won't be allowed to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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