Jim Cassidy (jockey)

Jim Cassidy (born 21 January 1963), often referred to as "Jimmy" is a retired New Zealand jockey who has been inducted in both the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Jim Cassidy
OccupationJockey
Born (1963-01-21) 21 January 1963
Wellington, New Zealand
Major racing wins
Melbourne Cup (1983, 1997)
W. S. Cox Plate (1998)
Caulfield Cup (1997, 2000)
Golden Slipper Stakes (2001)
Honours
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2012)
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2014)
Significant horses
Might and Power, Kiwi, Rough Habit,

Jimmy's career and life

Jim Cassidy was one of seven children of Arthur "Blue" and Francie Cassidy of Wellington, New Zealand.

Cassidy initially rode in New Zealand with Pat Campbell in the Hawkes Bay,[1] having over 500 winners in his country of birth. He achieved even greater success in Australia.

Cassidy rode Kiwi from last into the straight to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup.[2] He won his second Melbourne Cup in 1997 aboard Might and Power and they also won the following year's Cox Plate.

Cassidy has won the Australian Derby three times; in 1990, 1993 and in 2009.

Cassidy is the third jockey to win 100 group one races, winning his 100th race aboard Zoustar in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday 2 November 2013.[3]

His older brother Ricki was an apprentice jockey to Trevor McKee and Larry V Cassidy, who is seven years younger than Jim, went on to be a Sydney Premiership winning jockey.[4] Larry also started riding in New Zealand before moving to Australia, winning three Sydney premierships and later embarking on stints in Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau. After returning to Australia, Larry continued his riding career in Queensland.

Jim Cassidy's daughter, Nicole, married Brisbane and Hong Kong champion jockey, Zac Purton.[5]

Cassidy released his autobiography titled "Pumper" through Macmillan Books in October 2016.[6]

Notable wins

The following are some of the races Jimmy won in New Zealand and Australia.

Year
Race
Horse
Trainer(s)
1980[7]Stewards Handicap, RiccartonKilljoyJ.N.J Healey, Richmond
1981Brisbane CupFour CrownsD Enright
1981[8]Wellesley Stakes, TrenthamBisetteTrevor McKee
1981Avondale CupAliceMrs J Hercock, Hastings
1983[9]Wellington CupKiwiSnow Lupton, Waverley
1983Melbourne CupKiwiSnow Lupton, Waverley
1983New Zealand 1000 GuineasBurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1983Levin ClassicBurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1984Manawatu Sires Produce StakesVin D'ArmourJ R Lynds, Woodville
1983/84Canterbury Gold CupCommissionaireNoel D Eales, Awapuni
1983/84Great Northern Breeders OaksSilver ElmNoel D Eales, Awapuni
1983/84Matamata Breeders StakesVin D'ArmourJ R Lynds, Woodville
1983/84Eulogy StakesBurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1983/84Gold Trail StakesBurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1984Cambridge Stud International StakesCommissionaireNoel D Eales, Awapuni
1985Victoria DerbyHandy ProverbBrian Mayfield-Smith
1986Sydney CupMaroonedBrian Mayfield-Smith
1990Australian DerbyDr GraceDr G Chapman
1991Doomben CupRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1992Doomben CupRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1992All Aged StakesRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1992AJC Queen Elizabeth StakesRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1993All Aged StakesRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1993Australian DerbyInnocent KingK A Jordan
1993Doomben CupRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1994Doomben 10,000FlitterM Lees
1994Caulfield StakesRough HabitJohn Wheeler
1997Caulfield CupMight and PowerJack Denham
1997Melbourne CupMight and PowerJack Denham
1998W. S. Cox PlateMight and PowerJack Denham
1998Caulfield StakesMight and PowerJack Denham
2000Rosehill GuineasDiatribeGeorge Hanlon
2000Caulfield CupDiatribeGeorge Hanlon
2001Golden Slipper StakesHa HaGai Waterhouse
2009George Ryder StakesVision and PowerJoseph Pride
2009Australian DerbyRoman EmperorBart Cummings
2012Doomben 10,000Sea SirenJohn O’Shea
2013Coolmore Stud StakesZoustarChris Waller
2013Golden Rose StakesZoustarChris Waller
2015All Aged StakesDissident [10]Peter Moody

See also

References

  1. "Cassidy's career highlights and lowlights". Bloodstock.com.au.
  2. "Kiwi wins the 1983 Melbourne Cup". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  3. "Cassidy takes out 100th Group One on Zoustar". www.abc.net.au. 2 November 2013.
  4. "Cassidy happy as Larry to saddle up again". www.couriermail.com.au. 26 December 2015.
  5. "zac purtons wife nicole - Bing". www.bing.com.
  6. "PUMPER Jim Cassidy | Jim Cassidy's Biography | Book Sales".
  7. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1981 (Tenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  8. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (Eleventh edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  9. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1984 (Thirteenth edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
  10. Roots, Chris (18 April 2015). "Dissident goes out on top in the All Aged Stakes". The Sydney Morning Herald.

Further reading

  • Cassidy, Jim (with Webster, Andrew) (2016). The Pumper. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 9781743540114.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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