The funeral of Angelo Godani, the historic Sardinian jockey who died at the age of 64 , will take place today in the parish of Decimoputzu, at 4pm. An extraordinary figure, a myth in Sardinia. Over 45 years spent in the saddle, with many victories on the island, in the rest of Italy and also abroad.
Every morning he was up from 4am to go to the stables and train his horses. "He has the strength of a little boy," Andrea Racis, who knew him well, had recently recalled. A stable corporal. «An incredible charisma. He takes care of his diet very well to keep fit. For a jockey, weight is fundamental."
His son Andrea has always spoken of him as «a man with enviable willpower. A man, a timeless athlete."
Roberto Loi from Sinna, a friend and horse racing enthusiast, remembers him like this today: «Angioletto had innate talents. Since he was a child, when he was five or six years old, he had been riding horses. His talent was already evident back then, and confirmed over the years. I remember Godani in many prizes won: one in particular, that of the Assumption of Guasila with a horse - Guscio - from a stable in Sinnai. A person, an athlete, an extraordinary jockey. He also has the record of Grand Prix and Derby won in Sardinia. Debut in Chilivani at 17 years old. Then he never stopped. Among his successes is the Poncia prize in Milan. He took part in extremely prestigious races also with great jockeys of the caliber of Gianfranco and Frankie Dettori."