The 73-year-old jockey: how one incredible man fought tyranny, time and the mob

He sat in his usual spot in the jockeys’ room at Kincsem Park, at the centre of it all, everything revolving around him, as it always had. Pál Kállai was in a better mood now; he’d been pretty annoyed that morning, no petrol in the car, but his wife Marta had patiently sorted that out for him and now here he was in his rightful place, silks on, boots on, seven rides to look forward to including one of the favourites for the St Leger.

It was going to be a good day, he could feel it. Another good day for Hungary’s greatest jockey. Even at the age of 73 he could still show them all how it was done, couldn’t he? The restless whirl of raceday surrounded him, the voices, the bright colours, the energy, the excitement. He loved it. This was his kingdom. But then the room went dark, and his eyes closed, and he slid to the floor, and everything stopped.

At the time of his death, Pál Kállai was the oldest active professional jockey in the world, having ridden five races at Kincsem Park the previous Sunday, October 1 2006, the day before his 73rd birthday. Seven days before that he had partnered what the record books would relate as his last winner of more than 3,000 during a lapidary career. What a phenomenal feat of longevity; newsworthy, praiseworthy. But if his record-breaking age had been the only remarkable thing about Kállai, this article would be far shorter than it is. After all, there have been plenty of old, bold jockeys.