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Australian racing’s most decorated jockey Damien Oliver is calling it quits after this year’s spring racing carnival.
Oliver, 51, a winner of a record 128 group 1s including three Melbourne Cups, four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates and a Golden Slipper, has decided this carnival will be his last.
Damien Oliver will retire at the end of the year.Credit: Getty Images
“I’ve decided after 35 years it’s going to be my last spring carnival, and I’m going to ride through the spring carnival and then probably wind it up in Perth after their summer carnival,” Oliver said in a Ladbrokes video posted to X.
“I want to say thanks to everyone out there that supported me all the way through. I look forward to doing that over the next few months.”
Damien Oliver jumping off Media Puzzle after his incredible 2002 Melbourne Cup win.Credit: Fairfax
Oliver is set to join the Ladbrokes team in 2024 alongside Glen Boss, who retired two years ago.
Oliver’s record is unrivalled.
He won his first group 1 in September 1990 on Submariner in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, and within a few years was claiming the majors.
Across four spring carnivals he won three Caulfield Cups – on Mannerism in 1992, Paris Lane in 1994 and Doriemus in 1995.
A few weeks later, Doriemus gave him the cups double, his first Melbourne Cup for Lee Freedman.
His second Melbourne Cup win, in 2002, occurred amid tragedy.
On October 29, 2002, Oliver’s brother Jason died after a fall in a trial in Western Australia.
But Oliver had committed to riding Media Puzzle after claiming the Geelong Cup on him for Dermot Weld, and together they produced a win for the ages at Flemington. The story was later turned into a movie called The Cup featuring Stephen Curry as Oliver.
Oliver won his third Cup on Fiorente for Gai Waterhouse in 2013, while his two Cox Plates came on Dane Ripper in 1997 and Northerly in 2001.
His career wasn’t without controversy, however. In 2012, he was accused of placing a $10,000 bet on a rival horse in a race he rode in 2010. The bet resulted in an $11,000 profit but wasn’t picked up by authorities for two years. He was found guilty on November 13, 2012, and rubbed out for 10 months, to return in September ahead of the 2013 spring carnival.
But he bounced back in 2013 to win his ninth Scobie Breasley Medal – Racing Victoria’s equivalent of the Brownlow or Dally M medals for jockeys – and by 2020 he had won 14.
He’ll finish his career with well over 3000 career winners and at least 128 group 1 winners.
Jockeys pay tribute to the GOAT
Peers, past and presented, have shared their thoughts on the career of the retiring champion.
Hugh Bowman: “Commonly referred to in the Melbourne jockey room as GOAT, from idolising Damien to competing with him in some of the world’s biggest horse races, a fierce but fair competitor. It’s been an honour and I wish him well in retirement.”
Damien Oliver with Bart Cummings after winning the Cox Plate on Dane Ripper.Credit: Vince Caligiuri
Jimmy “Pumper” Cassidy: “Great mate, champion jockey, one of the greatest of all time. Was fantastic to watch, what a horseman.”
Greg Childs: “Damien is a terrific jockey, consistent in winning, but tactically, he could always mix it up and when you think you’ve got him beat, you haven’t. He’ll have a wonderful retirement and he will be consistently in demand as a guest speaker, and he will do the racing industry proud.”
Darren Gauci: “I got to know ‘Ollie’ when he first came to Melbourne, as I was Freedman’s rider at the time when Ollie came over from WA to be apprenticed to Freedman. Wasn’t long before I realised he was going to be a champion. His strength, competitiveness and race brain has always been amazing. The best jockey I have seen, an incredible career in the saddle. It’s been an absolute privilege and have some great memories having ridden with Ollie over those years.”
Steven King: “My fiercest rival and an absolute professional. We had many memorable battles on the track and he had an outstanding career. One of the greatest of all time.”
Damian Lane: “Damien will go down as the best of all time. His dedication to the game and his competitiveness throughout his whole career is what kept him at the top for so long. An idol of mine from a very young age, it has been a privilege to share the racetrack with him.”
Ben Melham: “The master, you have to take your hat off to anyone who has maintained such a high level of performance from the beginning of his career right until the very end in any sporting profession. I was lucky enough to start my career and watch him at the pinnacle of his. It’s a privilege to have ridden with him. Enjoy retirement GOAT.”
Kerrin McEvoy: “Been a pleasure to ride against Ollie over the last two and a half decades. He’s a top competitor, determined and at the same time one of the fairest riders to compete against. He had the ultimate gift of understanding what type of horse he had underneath him. His record speaks for itself, genius in the saddle.”
Craig Williams: “He has been a great contributor to the racing industry. He has inspired so many people to become jockeys. His skills and competitive nature have made me the best rider I can be every day.”
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