Episode 585: Glynn Pretty - The South Australian jockey described by Bart Cummings in the 1960’s as the best horseman to ride for his stable.
Glynn in the parade yard at Happy Valley in late 1970s. He rode 5 winners the day this photo was taken.
When an Adelaide podcast listener contacted me recently about a potential interview with Glynn Pretty, I couldn’t get things under way quickly enough. In the 60’s and 70’s this man’s reputation was as solid as any top jockey in the nation. He spent a lot of time out of Australia fulfilling contracts in Singapore and Hong Kong, but whenever back in Adelaide he promptly reminded owners and trainers why people like Bart Cummings were so lavish in their praise. A dreadful fall in Hong Kong in 1978 was expected to terminate his career. Six years later he made a comeback and rode 50 winners in a year before quitting for good.
Glynn put a lot back into racing following his official retirement, and at age 80 is still involved with the SA Racing Appeals Board. He’s also enjoyed the thrill of horse ownership, especially an involvement with talented mare See You In Heaven. The daughter of Divine Prophet won six races for her ownership team, all at stakes level. We begin by talking about Glynn‘s love of the game of golf.
The former star jockey looks back on 15 years as President of the South Australian Jockey’s Association.
Glynn’s very proud of the part he played in the establishment of the SA Jockeys Academy in conjunction with TAFE. He explains how it works and acknowledges some of the great riding talents to come under his tutelage.
He looks back on his inclusion in a team appointed by Stereline in the 90’s to visit the USA on a promotional tour. The goal was to showcase the starting gates and running rails manufactured by the company in Australia. While in America Glynn saw jockey’s safety vests for the first time. He quickly floated the idea in Australia.
He talks of his collaboration with the Australian Jockeys Association in introducing a better form of indemnity insurance for injured jockeys.
Glynn talks of childhood days in Adelaide and his battle with asthma. He was actually allergic to horses.
He talks of his original apprenticeship organised by his father Stan. Things went terribly wrong soon after he started at the Morphettville stables of Bob Burrows.
Glynn says he left racing altogether for more than a year but later regenerated an apprenticeship with trainer Bert Kenny. The legendary Colin Hayes came into the equation at one stage.
Pretty remembers his first ever race ride at Strathalbyn and the magic of his first win at Cheltenham. There was enormous sentiment attached to this win.
He recalls the traumatic circumstances under which his father lost his life in a motor accident.
We simply let Glynn reminisce about some of the better horses he got to ride early in his career. Galilee and Light Fingers make for a good start. Dayana also gets an honourable mention.
He speaks fondly of Hampton’s Pride, one of the most expensive yearlings sold in Australia in the 1960’s.
Glynn speaks of wins in the famous Adelaide double the Goodwood Hcp and Adelaide Cup. His wins came one year apart.
He looks back on wins in races like the SA St Leger, Port Adelaide Cup and SA Oaks.
Glynn remembers his flying start the first time he took on a retainer in Singapore. He rode for just 9 months of the season but finished second in the premiership.
He looks back on 4 consecutive years as Singapore’s champion jockey.
Glynn was stunned when awarded a rare honour after so little time in Singapore. He talks of wins in some of the jurisdiction’s most important races.
He says SA premierships were never on his radar because of the time he spent out of the country. He was however proud of a South Australian premiership after returning from Singapore in the 1970/71 season.
He talks of three amazing retainers he was forced to decline during his career. One of them came from the UK.
Glynn talks of the success he enjoyed in HK and his injury toll after the fateful 1978 accident at Happy Valley.
He looks back on two other interesting feature wins in the early 70’s - one in Queensland the other in Melbourne. Both winners were trained by Bart Cummings.
Glynn never won a Melbourne Cup but says it could have been different had he been in the right place at the right time.
He remembers a Singapore marriage to his late wife Gladys and the whereabouts of daughter Jodie and son Troy.
Glynn Pretty’s reputation as one of the best jockeys of his generation was set in stone. Just ask any racing man who was around in the 60’s and 70’s. Great to have him on the podcast. Old timers will enjoy his recollections. Younger racing fans will be impressed by the merit of his achievements.
Unsaddling an Adelaide winner early in his career - courtesy The Advertiser.
A win on Storm Duke at Victoria Park 1974 - courtesy The Advertiser.
Glynn on the comeback trail in 1984. He rode 50 winners before retiring for good - courtesy The Advertiser.
An early winner for Bart Cummings in Adelaide.
After a feature win on imported galloper Keep Going in Singapore 1971.
Glynn was deeply honoured to be a torch bearer prior to the start of the Sydney Olympics. On his immediate right is his late wife Gladys.
Relaxing at Port Lincoln.
This was the day he went within centimetres of a ‘hole in one’.
Glynn and son Troy enjoying a round of golf on the Gold Coast.
Glynn and partner Annie double up on a toy horse at West Adelaide Football Club. Annie was of great assistance in preparing the podcast.
The former star jockey enjoys a social drink from time to time.
