Larry Olsen in the company of riding royalty
Larry Olsen sent me this photo recently, especially for our Friday Flashback segment.
It was snapped on Golden Slipper day 1989, the year after Larry had won the big race on Star Watch. Several former Slipper winning jockeys were guests of the Sydney Turf Club on the day, and were invited to pose for this special photograph with the defending champion.
From the left Darby McCarthy( who didn’t win a Slipper), Athol Mulley (Skyline 1958, Sky High 1960 and Eskimo Prince 1964), George Moore (Baguette 1970 and Fairy Walk 1971), Bill Pyers (Pago Pago 1962).
Bill Pyers won 7 South Australian riding premierships before he turned 24, and won a Caulfield Cup and Doncaster Hcp in addition to his Golden Slipper.
He enjoyed tremendous success overseas winning a 2000 Guineas on Baldric, an Arc De Triomphe on Topyo, and the Washington International on the great mare Dahlia.
This photograph is one of Larry Olsen’s most prized possessions. He and Darby McCarthy had been apprentices together with Mal Barnes, while the other three former jockeys had been his long time idols.