‘Darby’ McCarthy and ASP author Professor John Maynard. Photo: Andrew Turner (AIATSIS).
‘Every Aboriginal jockey throughout the history of Australian racing can be held up high as a beacon of Aboriginal achievement in a very intense, competitive and physically demanding sport.’
So notes Professor John Maynard in his revised edition of Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings' which was officially launched at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Friday 8 November.
Professor Maynard - the son of famous Aboriginal jockey Merv Maynard - says that Aboriginal involvement in the Australian racing industry is important. “For nearly two centuries, our stories of involvement and stunning achievements have been derided, hidden and even erased, yet the myths of the past continue to live and reveal rich tales of survival and inspiration.”
“This book is testament to their skill, their records and victories and to their conquering prejudice and racism.”
Speaking at the launch, AIATSIS Principal Russell Taylor congratulated Professor Maynard on the publication of Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings'.
“Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings' offers a fascinating insight into the racing industry and the types of challenges and successes experienced by Indigenous jockeys,” Mr Taylor said. Guests were treated to speeches from legendary Aboriginal jockey Richard ‘Darby’ McCarthy and former Australian Jockey Club chairman Bob Charley, while Professor Maynard impressed the audience with his passion for writing and Indigenous achievement.
“My first port of call is writing for Aboriginal people and communities, we’ve got heroes and heroines from our past we can be extremely proud of,” Professor Maynard said. “For the rest of my life I’ll be revising this publication, as we find more and more jockeys from the past and also hopefully we find more ‘Darby McCarthys’ in the future.”
Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings' - published by Aboriginal Studies Press - highlights the survival and achievements of Aboriginal jockeys in the face of adversity - since they first began riding in the nineteenth century. Amongst the many Aboriginal jockeys highlighted in the book are Merv Maynard, Norm Rose, Frank Reys, Richard Lawrence, 'Darby' McCarthy and Leigh-Anne Goodwin, Australia's first female Aboriginal jockey to ride a winner at a metropolitan track. The launch of the revised edition of Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings' came some forty years after Aboriginal Jockey Frank Reys won the 1973 Melbourne Cup.
Purchase Aborigines and the 'Sport of Kings'.
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