I am 63 almost...In 1973-75 i use to buy the racetrack magazine with the glossy photos of such horses as Gunsynd..its actually an image of gunsynd with Kevin langby in the mounting yard at Moonee Valley.A great image in colour and a double page..I still have it in prestine condition along with many other champions of the era... Kingstown town won in sydney in its second race start at 33-1...on the form guide it had kingstown town one start for last placing...it was a O on the form guide....After his zero he had been gelded and the rest is history.
Langby mentioned his first ride in a Melbourne Cup on a horses called Tupaki trained by Larry Wiggins, I remember back in about the mid 60's I didn't work for Larry but rode some work for him, he asked me to take Tupaki to the races for him(as the strapper) when I arrived to pick it up the horse was in a Yard and had been rolling in manure, it had dried and was still stuck to his winter Coat, so I grabbed the brushes and started to dress him, Larry said not to worry about it, it would get us a better price when the Yard watchers see the long winter coat and scruffy condition(I think he had not long came out of the South Island of New Zealand) he was right he blew like a gale and won easy P.S. as an interesting aside to the Larry Wiggins story, Larry was an NZedder and told me a story about his ride in a Melbourne Cup, he was riding a horse call Akbar in the 1951 Melbourne Cup, the owner said he could have the Prizemoney if he won the race, he said If I draw anywhere near the fave Delta and can get on his back and follow him I will beat him, Akbar drew one side of the field and Delta drew the other side, (can't remember if he said Akbar drew the outside barrier but I think he did) He said the only time he saw Delta in the race was in the straight when Delta went past him, Akbar ran second
My Dad was a journeyman/battler jockey many years ago and he rode in NSW from 80 to 84. he mentions these 2 guys whenever he’s talking about the best jockeys in Sydney when he first went over there along with Peter Cook. Also he says John Duggan Ron Quinton and Darren Bradman as an apprentice all done their time with Theo Green
Malcolm elaborates on the truth a lot, great story teller in the same vein as Davy Crockett, Mighty Kingdom easily beat Kingston Town in the Caulfield Cup ridden by Malcolm, if KT was so good, Why did Mal choose Mighty Kingdom? Mighty Kingdom was owned by the Foysters and they stood a horse called Planet Kingdom(I think he may have been the sire of Mighty Kingdom) on their Gooree Stud at Mudgee, anyway Planet Kingdom broke his leg and the stud needed a Replacement so Mighty Kingdom was retired as a young horse(that is the real reason trainers like to geld horses) when KT won the Champion stakes he was ridden by J Duggan as Mal preferred the ride on another stablemate, so that is twice that Mal showed he had little regard for KT and thought others were better
They got one thing wrong, I don't think Jack Thompson was an apprentice in the 50's, he would be about the same Vintage as Sellwood and Moore, maybe the 40's I reckon he would have started his apprenticeship in the 30's and finished in the early 40's
If I apologize every day until I go to my grave it won't be enough...I always thought Malcolm Johnston was a "cocky bastard" My respect for the man has gone through the roof!!!
Rode trackwork at Rosehill in the early 80s two legends 🐎
Great interview. Two of my absolute idols growing up and they rode my two favourite horses of all time - Gunsynd and Kingston Town!
Thank you, yes we had a lot of fun recording that interview..
I am 63 almost...In 1973-75 i use to buy the racetrack magazine with the glossy photos of such horses as Gunsynd..its actually an image of gunsynd with Kevin langby in the mounting yard at Moonee Valley.A great image in colour and a double page..I still have it in prestine condition along with many other champions of the era...
Kingstown town won in sydney in its second race start at 33-1...on the form guide it had kingstown town one start for last placing...it was a O on the form guide....After his zero he had been gelded and the rest is history.
Malcolm was my fav jockey of all time, back in the days when he rode Rosie Heir in a golden slipper to The King..
Langby mentioned his first ride in a Melbourne Cup on a horses called Tupaki trained by Larry Wiggins, I remember back in about the mid 60's I didn't work for Larry but rode some work for him, he asked me to take Tupaki to the races for him(as the strapper) when I arrived to pick it up the horse was in a Yard and had been rolling in manure, it had dried and was still stuck to his winter Coat, so I grabbed the brushes and started to dress him, Larry said not to worry about it, it would get us a better price when the Yard watchers see the long winter coat and scruffy condition(I think he had not long came out of the South Island of New Zealand) he was right he blew like a gale and won easy
P.S. as an interesting aside to the Larry Wiggins story, Larry was an NZedder and told me a story about his ride in a Melbourne Cup, he was riding a horse call Akbar in the 1951 Melbourne Cup, the owner said he could have the Prizemoney if he won the race, he said If I draw anywhere near the fave Delta and can get on his back and follow him I will beat him, Akbar drew one side of the field and Delta drew the other side, (can't remember if he said Akbar drew the outside barrier but I think he did) He said the only time he saw Delta in the race was in the straight when Delta went past him, Akbar ran second
My Dad was a journeyman/battler jockey many years ago and he rode in NSW from 80 to 84. he mentions these 2 guys whenever he’s talking about the best jockeys in Sydney when he first went over there along with Peter Cook. Also he says John Duggan Ron Quinton and Darren Bradman as an apprentice all done their time with Theo Green
They were certainly 2 of the best jockeys in this industry, and rode some serious Racehorses.
Fantastic interview. Those were the good old days!
Thanks Scott, we had plenty of fun with those two champions.
Great story Steve. Cheers
Thanks David, appreciate your feedback.
Steve Hart.
Greatest jockeys of Australia
Malcolm elaborates on the truth a lot, great story teller in the same vein as Davy Crockett, Mighty Kingdom easily beat Kingston Town in the Caulfield Cup ridden by Malcolm, if KT was so good, Why did Mal choose Mighty Kingdom? Mighty Kingdom was owned by the Foysters and they stood a horse called Planet Kingdom(I think he may have been the sire of Mighty Kingdom) on their Gooree Stud at Mudgee, anyway Planet Kingdom broke his leg and the stud needed a Replacement so Mighty Kingdom was retired as a young horse(that is the real reason trainers like to geld horses) when KT won the Champion stakes he was ridden by J Duggan as Mal preferred the ride on another stablemate, so that is twice that Mal showed he had little regard for KT and thought others were better
They got one thing wrong, I don't think Jack Thompson was an apprentice in the 50's, he would be about the same Vintage as Sellwood and Moore, maybe the 40's I reckon he would have started his apprenticeship in the 30's and finished in the early 40's
If I apologize every day until I go to my grave it won't be enough...I always thought Malcolm Johnston was a "cocky bastard" My respect for the man has gone through the roof!!!
Malcolm is such a Character who is indeed a Racing Legend, as is KL... we had a lot of fun with this interview, thanks for you comments.
Steve Hart.