Everybody wants a photo with “Hutchy”.
In Part 1 the former legendary jockey talks about the frustrations of Covid 19. He loves to drive himself around Melbourne but just lately never gets his car out of the garage.
Ron talks about his present day racing interests. He delights in telling us about his frequent visits to the track.
“Hutchy” talks about his four children, daughters Susan and Sally, sons Peter and Raymond. Peter was a Gr 1 winning jockey - Ray a former trainer and nowadays a busy vet.
Ron looks back on early days when his parents opposed his ambition to become a jockey. He talks of his first master Claude Goodfellow.
He talks about a nine month stint at a property owned by famous old time jockey Bobby Lewis whose last Melbourne Cup win was in 1927, but he still shares the Cup riding record.
Ron recalls with amazing clarity his first winning ride at Mentone in 1945.
He looks back on his first major winner Spectre in the 1945 Australian Cup.
The former champion jockey reflects on his 60 wins in Cup races all over Australia. He was called the “Cups King” long before Bart Cummings earned the tag.
Ron looks back on his Melbourne Cup CV. He wasn’t able to win the great race in 16 attempts, but probably should have won a couple.
He looks back on the depth of the Melbourne riding ranks in his era, and his only premiership win in 1958/59.
Ron pays tribute to a couple of high profile horses he got to ride before going overseas.
(Banner image - The unflappable “Hutchy” gets the grey Little Tern home narrowly in this one at Folkestone. The winner was owned by a daughter of the Duke of Norfolk.)
A great old photo! It’s one of Ron’s 60 Cup winners in Australia - the Mornington Cup of 1951 on Raysun. Note race goggles were not in use at this time.
Ron and Norma on a Tasmanian honeymoon 1953.
Ron rode in invitation races all around Australia in the early part of his career. Norma loved to travel with him.
The 16th Duke of Norfolk’s dearest wish was to win the famous Ascot Gold Cup. Ron was able to deliver the coveted prize in 1974 on Ragstone. Runner up was Proverb (outside) with Lassalle (Lester Piggott) in third place.
Three generations gathered for the Maestro_s 90th birthday party 2017. On Ron_s left is son Peter, former jockey whose career highlights include the 1993 Caulfield Cup on Fraar .
With daughter Susan at the races in Melbourne.