Leonard Dittman
Encyclopedia
Leonard Ross "Mick" Dittman (born 1952 in Rockhampton
Queensland
) is a retired Australian Racing Hall of Fame
jockey
.
Nicknamed “The Enforcer” due to his strong use of the whip
, he was renowned for his vigour and strength in a tight finish. He rose to become one of the best jockeys in the country.
Some of the achievements during his career included winning the Melbourne Cup
(Gurner's Lane
), three Golden Slipper
s (Full On Aces, Bounding Away and Bint Marscay), two Cox Plate
s (Red Anchor
and Strawberry Road
) and a Caulfield Cup
(Sydeston
).
During a career spanning more than twenty years in the saddle it is estimated he has won more than 1,700 races (which included 88 Group 1
races) and through his partnership with legendary trainer Tommy Smith also won three Sydney Jockey Premierships.
Mick Dittman was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
) is a retired Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is part of the Australian Racing Museum which documents and honours the horseracing legends of Australia. The museum officially opened in 1981 and created the Hall of Fame in 2000....
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.
Nicknamed “The Enforcer” due to his strong use of the whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
, he was renowned for his vigour and strength in a tight finish. He rose to become one of the best jockeys in the country.
Some of the achievements during his career included winning the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
(Gurner's Lane
Gurner's Lane
Gurner's Lane was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1983 champion. He is best remembered for winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double in 1982...
), three Golden Slipper
Golden Slipper
The Golden Slipper Stakes is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two year old horses held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney run over 1,200 metres on turf at set weights. It is the premier two year old race in Australia and is the world's richest race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds....
s (Full On Aces, Bounding Away and Bint Marscay), two Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
s (Red Anchor
Red Anchor
Red Anchor was a notable Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in Australia with wins in eight Principal Races.A chestnut son of Sea Anchor from the mare Decoy Girl by Decoy Boy, he was foaled in 1981 in New Zealand and was trained by trainer Tommy Smith after originally being trained by Paul...
and Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who went on to race in Germany, France, the United States, and Japan...
) and a Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
(Sydeston
Sydeston
Sydeston was one of the best racehorses to come out of Tasmania in the history of Australian racing, and easily the best to do so in the modern era. After winning a number of races in his home state, the plain brown gelding was transferred to Bob Hoysted in the middle of 1989...
).
During a career spanning more than twenty years in the saddle it is estimated he has won more than 1,700 races (which included 88 Group 1
Group races
Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board which races shall be designated as Group races...
races) and through his partnership with legendary trainer Tommy Smith also won three Sydney Jockey Premierships.
Mick Dittman was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.