William Pike refuses to comment on vaccine status amid being urged by Neville Parnham to ‘get second opinion’

Trainer Neville Parnham believes champion jockey William Pike faces a lengthy exclusion from racing unless he complies with a double vaccination policy likely to be introduced full-time in early February. It came as a tight-lipped Pike would not comment about his vaccination status at Pinjarra races on Wednesday afternoon. Pike forfeited his mount on hot favourite Midnight Blue in Saturday’s Perth Cup after a double vaccination order was announced for racing participants and patrons at Ascot’s cup meeting. Rumours have swirled through the racing industry for weeks on Pike’s vaccination stance, but he refuses to comment. Pike gave a thumbs-up to the crowd at one of his weigh-ins at Pinjarra but stayed stony silent behind his black mask as he left the track. However, he did have supporters among the unmasked crowd. One shouted, “William, don’t get the jab. We love you as you are,” after he won race three on Extra Secret. Parnham, a winner of 13 Perth trainers’ premierships and a WA Racing Hall of Fame inductee, urged Pike to re-think his call. “It’s his privacy, but most people know he won’t be vaccinated,” Parnham said. “And it might be a long time before we see him again. “It would be a shame if a champion jockey is most remembered for an anti-vax attitude having ended his career. “I think he should get a second opinion. “It’s an old line in racing, but it also applies in this case.” Legendary trainer Bart Cummings famously gave the “second opinion” advice to Darren Beadman when the former premier Sydney jockey revealed at the height of his career in the 1990s he would quit racing to become a church preacher. Beadman returned to race riding two years later. “William Pike is a genuine champion,” Parnham said. “We haven’t seen the likes of him in WA and he’s also a proven topliner at Melbourne carnivals. “We can’t afford to lose him from racing. “But we’ve known for a fair while that double COVID vaccinations would be required for industry participants top remain in racing.” Though double vaccination requirements apply to the Perth Cup, the ruling will probably not be introduced to racing on a permanent basis until February 5. Pike, with a huge following by interstate punters, is one of Australia’s most popular jockeys. He clearly leads the national jockeys’ premiership. His domination of WA racing has mostly been underpinned in the last 10 years by leading owners Bob and Sandra Peters, who race Perth Cup fancies Midnight Blue and Pure Devotion. Bob Peters has booked Patrick Carbery to replace Pike on Midnight Blue and Clint Johnston-Porter retains the Pure Devotion mount. Peters said he rated Pike at 50-50 to continue race riding and he would respect his decision on a vaccination stance. He said Pike’s vaccination attitude stemmed from genuine beliefs Personally, Peters said he was double COVID vaccinated and waiting on a booster shot this week. He strongly supports the vaccination policy. “I don’t know (if Pike will continue riding),” Peters told Nine Newspapers. “It’s hard to tell. I guess it would be 50-50. “It will be hard to him to watch the races and Perth Cup on Saturday. “Whatever decision he makes, we respect it.” Peters said he had spoken to Pike earlier this month about his stance. “I really don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s up to him. “They’re genuine beliefs he has. “Some people don’t want to be vaccinated because they’ve been told to. There are others who believe in what they’re doing.” Troy Turner and Jason also forfeited Perth Cup mounts after announcement of the double vaccination requirements on Cup day. Victorian and NSW jockeys must have double COVID vaccinations to continue race riding. Pike’s racing manager Dale Verhagen said the jockey would not voluntarily retire early. “After Perth Cup day, we hope he can resume riding on January 3 at Pinjarra,” Verhagen told racenet.com.au. “We understand he will be riding until February 5. “He may or may not be vaccinated by that time. “He won’t be retiring voluntarily, that’s for sure. There’s a lot to play out before now and February 5.”