Darby inspired nation
THE Vale Darby McCarthy Race will be held in Toowoomba on Sunday in a mark of respect to the legendary jockey and indigenous trailblazer who died on Wednesday night aged 76.
Jockeys in the race will also wear black armbands to honour the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame inductee.
McCarthy was one of 13 children raised in Cunnamulla in western Queensland and rose to be among Australia’s top jockeys in the 1960s.
In one golden period McCarthy won the Stradbroke Hope three times with Mullala (1963), Cele’s Image (1964) and Castanea (1966).
He won the 1968 Doomben 10,000 (Gay Gauntlet) and 1966 Brisbane Cup (Apa) before moving to Sydney where he won the 1969 AJC Derby (Divide and Rule) and 1969 Epsom (Broker’s Tip).
He later rode with success in France for several years.
McCarthy was installed into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame in 2004.
Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzie King said the club had only recently held a tribute day for McCarthy where he was able to attend.
In recent years he had been living at Oakey on the Darling Downs.
Olympic champion Cathy Freeman described the influence he had on her in the jockey’s biography, Against All Odds.
“Darby influenced me and encouraged me to strive for excellence in all that I do and to persevere against all odds and for this I will forever be thankful,” Freeman said.
Veteran Queensland trainer Pat Duff said McCarthy was among the best riders he had seen.
“He had a beautiful seat on a horse and magic hands. There haven’t been many better,” Duff said.
Fellow Queensland Hall of Fame jockey Pam O’Neill said McCarthy at his peak held his own with the world’s best.
“He was at his best against riders such as George Moore and (Lester) Piggott,” O’Neill said.