Episode 476: Jim Cassidy

 

Jim Cassidy was just 18 years old when he first made his mark in Australian racing with a Brisbane Cup win on Four Crowns. He was back eighteen months later to win the Melbourne Cup with a barnstorming run on Kiwi. Some say the gelding produced the fastest finish in Cup history. In 1984 he was offered a plumb job in Sydney and so began an adventure destined to take the Wellington born jockey to 104 Gr 1 wins. In between times there were some thrilling highs and some gut wrenching lows. In this lengthy chat Jim talks with customary candour about his life in racing- from his first win at Wairoa in 1978 to his swansong on Victorian Oaks day 2015. 

He begins by explaining the origins of his legendary nickname “The Pumper”.

The former jockey says the nickname came from his unique style in the saddle.

Jim looks back on the publication of his widely read 2016 autobiography “The Pumper”. 

He goes back to the closing weeks of his riding career. A winner at his last Sydney ride, and his final Melbourne Cup carnival.

Jim agrees the Victorian Oaks was numerically his most significant Gr 1 race.

He looks back on his rides over the first three days of that Melbourne Cup carnival.

Jim takes us back to childhood days in Wellington when his ambition to be an All Black far outweighed any riding aspirations.

He reminisces about an uninspiring education.

The legendary jockey takes us back to work experience with two trainers and finally an apprenticeship with Patrick Campbell. He says he thought his first winner would never come. Once it happened there was no stopping the little dynamo.

Jim reminisces about his wins in the 1981 O’Shea Stakes and Brisbane Cup on Four Crowns after which he tells the riveting Kiwi story.

He’s never forgotten the phone call from Bob Lapointe and the offer to be a part of a powerful Sydney conglomerate. At first he thought the phone call was a ruse.

Jim remembers the early days of his new job and the arrival of an English horse destined for a brief but brilliant campaign in Sydney. 

The great jockey experienced several low points including the horror of a home invasion which came as a massive fright for himself and wife Helen. In typical fashion he turned up at the races and rode multiple winners.

He looks back on his all time most satisfying day at the races- six winners at a Rosehill Saturday meeting in 1987.

Jim looks back on a low key midweek meeting and a horse called Cruising. His ride incurred the wrath of the stewards who hit him with a 12 month ban. He says nobody would have been seen to advantage on the horse in question.

He’s very proud of his three win record in the AJC Australian Derby. He takes us through his trio of victories in the historic race.

Cassidy still rues the fact that he never won a Melbourne Cup for Bart Cummings. It still pains him that he could have ridden Kingston Rule in 1990, but stuck solid to another stable.

He talks of his association with another Cummings top liner, the ill fated Shaftesbury Avenue.

Jim pays tribute to Malcolm Ayoub an old fashioned masseur who got him through many aches and pains. “The Boss” also became his greatest friend and inspiration.

A fitting tribute is on the agenda for the Kiwi wonder horse Rough Habit, one of Jim’s all time favourites.

The former legendary jockey is happy to take us through the infamous “Jockey Tape” scandal. The story broke on the day he was to ride Flying Spur in the Golden Slipper. It cost him a win in the great two year old race and resulted in a five year disqualification later reduced to three. He was back in 21 months with a resolve that had never been stronger. The best of Jim Cassidy was yet to come.

On resuming he needed a top horse to regenerate his career. He found Might And Power and his comeback was complete.

Six years after being robbed of Slipper victory on Flying Spur, he finally won the great race on Gai’s filly Ha Ha. 

Jim was pretty chuffed to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Zoustar, now a champion stallion. It was his 100th win at the elite level. He retired with 104.

Another skilful professional came into Jim’s life in 1997. By this stage of his career the injuries were taking their toll. Vietnamese born masseur Long Nguyen used some unorthodox methods but got some amazing results for the jockey.

Jim pays tribute to daughters Nicolle, Sarsha and Piper and to his much loved grandchildren. Piper’s mother is his second wife Vicky of whom he speaks with reverence.

In conclusion he acknowledges the brilliant career of younger brother Larry who’s currently recovering from injury. Jim was slightly embarrassed to learn what Larry had to say about him in a recent interview.

It’s a comprehensive chat with one of the best jockeys of a golden generation.