Roy Higgins (jockey)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Roy Henry Higgins |
| Nickname | The Professor |
| Born | 5 June 1938 Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 8 March 2014 (aged 75) Melbourne, Australia |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Professional jockey, media commentator |
| Retired | 1983 |
Roy Henry Higgins
MBE (5 June 1938 – 8 March 2014) was an Australian
jockey who rode from the late 1950s to the early 1980s. His talent in the saddle was to later earn him the nickname "The Professor".
Early life
Higgins was born in
Deniliquin where, in 1953, he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters.[1]
Career
Despite a constant battle with his weight, Higgins won almost every major race on the Australian calendar.[2] He rode a total of 2312 winners during his career and won the Melbourne Jockeys' Premiership a record-equalling 11 times.[3] His first premiership win was in the 1964/65 racing season.[1][3]
Higgins won the
VRC Oaks, four Victoria Derbys, the Blue Diamond Stakes and the AJC Oaks six times.[1][3] He also won two Sydney Cups and two Golden Slipper Stakes.[3] Some of the horses he was associated with were Gunsynd, Leilani, Storm Queen, Sir Dane and Big Philou
.
Higgins' last race ride was at Flemington in October 1983,Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.
Higgins was inducted into the
Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987.[5]
He was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.
Honours
In the June
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to "Horse racing as a jockey".[6]
Personal life
Higgins was married to Genine. Although they were separated they remained friends. They had two daughters.[7]
Death
Higgins died in Melbourne on 8 March 2014, aged 75, following a short illness.[8]
References
- ^ a b c Bartley, Patrick; Habel, Tim (9 March 2014). "Roy Higgins dies suddenly, aged 75". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Roy saddles up for premiership No. 12
- ^ a b c d e Sherer, Darryl (8 March 2014). "Vale Roy Higgins MBE". racenet. racenet. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Rule, Andrew (27 February 2014). "Roy Higgins is crook, but he's not starved of admirers". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Roy Higgins". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Roy Henry Higgins". It's an Honour. Australian Government. 15 June 1974. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Nicholson, Rod (8 March 2014). "Roy Higgins – a 'humble lad from the country' who reached the pinnacle of his sport". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Schlink, Leo (8 March 2014). "Vale The Professor as racing fraternity mourns the loss of one of the greats in Roy Higgins". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
External links
- SportsLink interviews with Higgins in 2008 and 2007[permanent dead link]
- Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame Champions - Roy Higgins
- Dinkum Aussies - Roy Higgins Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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| National | |
| People | |
