CUP TOUR REKINDLES THE RIDE OF HARRIS’ LIFE
TOURING with the Melbourne Cup is a sweet ride for 1994 winning jockey Wayne Harris.
But on Melbourne Cup Day Harris said he felt frustrated he could no longer compete in the race that stops a nation.
“I get a bit blue,” Harris said yesterday. “A bit moody, you get such a big high winning it and each year there’s a new hero.”
No longer being able to ride a horse due to his health made it harder.
“I really miss the riding. I have a disease in my spinal cord which affects all my nerves,” said Harris, explaining it had been a long time since he had been in the saddle.
In 1994, he rode Jeune to victory for the legendary Hayes stable.
However, he said seeing firsthand the effect the 18-carat gold cup had on people across Australia helped him.
“Taking it to schools, hospitals and retirement homes and to see the joy on people’s faces is just unbelievable – the cup has an aura about it.
“A lot of people don’t believe this is the cup that will be presented to the owner this year. This is the actual cup.”
Organisers said the trophy had travelled more than 494,000km and visited more than 377 destinations in Australia and New Zealand since the first Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.
The cup will remain on the Gold Coast today before travelling to Lismore on Sunday.
The 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup will run on November 7.