Jim Cassidy (jockey)

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Jim Cassidy
Occupation Jockey
Born (1963-01-21) 21 January 1963 (age 60)
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,

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.

Contents

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
1981 Brisbane Cup Four CrownsD Enright
1981 [8] Wellesley Stakes, TrenthamBisette Trevor McKee
1981 Avondale Cup AliceMrs J Hercock, Hastings
1983 [9] Wellington Cup Kiwi Snow Lupton, Waverley
1983 Melbourne Cup Kiwi Snow Lupton, Waverley
1983 New Zealand 1000 Guineas BurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1983 Levin Classic BurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1984 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes Vin 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
1983/84 Eulogy Stakes BurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1983/84Gold Trail StakesBurlettaF P Campbell, Hastings
1984 Cambridge Stud International Stakes CommissionaireNoel D Eales, Awapuni
1985 Victoria Derby Handy ProverbBrian Mayfield-Smith
1986 Sydney Cup MaroonedBrian Mayfield-Smith
1990 Australian Derby Dr GraceDr G Chapman
1991 Doomben Cup Rough Habit John Wheeler
1992 Doomben Cup Rough Habit John Wheeler
1992 All Aged Stakes Rough Habit John Wheeler
1992 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Rough Habit John Wheeler
1993 All Aged Stakes Rough Habit John Wheeler
1993 Australian Derby Innocent KingK A Jordan
1993 Doomben Cup Rough Habit John Wheeler
1994 Doomben 10,000 FlitterM Lees
1994 Caulfield Stakes Rough Habit John Wheeler
1997 Caulfield Cup Might and Power Jack Denham
1997 Melbourne Cup Might and Power Jack Denham
1998 W. S. Cox Plate Might and Power Jack Denham
1998 Caulfield Stakes Might and Power Jack Denham
2000 Rosehill Guineas DiatribeGeorge Hanlon
2000 Caulfield Cup DiatribeGeorge Hanlon
2001 Golden Slipper Stakes Ha Ha Gai Waterhouse
2009 George Ryder Stakes Vision and PowerJoseph Pride
2009 Australian Derby Roman Emperor Bart Cummings
2012 Doomben 10,000 Sea SirenJohn O’Shea
2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes Zoustar Chris Waller
2013 Golden Rose Stakes Zoustar Chris Waller
2015 All Aged Stakes Dissident [10] Peter Moody

See also

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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.

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