From winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas aboard Tarascon at just 17 to still competing at the highest level more than a quarter of a century later, Jamie Spencer has established himself as one of the finest jockeys of his generation. Along the way, he has ridden for some of the biggest names in the sport and learned from many of its sharpest minds. He speaks with Gary King about the people, advice and principles that have shaped his career. TDN: Outside of your family, who has been the most important mentor in your career, and why? Jamie Spencer: I've had so many mentors, from Liam Browne, who I was apprenticed to, to Tommy Stack, who trusted me in a Classic when I was 17, and Barney Curley, Luca Cumani and many others. It would be unfair to single any one of them out because they have all played a part in my riding career.But, from a left-field perspective, my father died when I was 12, just as I was becoming seriously interested in racing. At the time, I rode out at weekends for Edward O'Grady, who had a champion amateur jockey called Philip Fenton. Philip would take me point-to-pointing with him, or to the races if he was riding on the track on a Sunday. He would often drop me back to boarding school afterwards, which was an hour out of his way.When I look back now, it was a completely selfless act of kindness. There was nothing in it for him. Just by listening to him, I learned so much without even knowing it. There aren't many Philip Fentons in the world.TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?JS: My father always said, “Be careful of people with too many friends, because a friend to everyone is a friend to no one.” I could easily count my confidants on one hand, thankfully, so I suppose I listened.TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the Thoroughbred industry today? JS: Give it 100%, whatever aspect of the industry you enter. From a personal point of view, when it's going wrong and nothing seems to work, stick to the same principles you used when it was going well. It generally comes back around if you hold your nerve.The post Jamie Spencer: “When It’s Going Wrong, Hold Your Nerve” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.