Roy Higgins
Encyclopedia
Roy Henry Higgins MBE
(born 5 June 1938 in Koondrook, Victoria
) is a former Australian jockey who rode in the late 1960s and the 1970s. He grew up in the southern New South Wales
town of Deniliquin where he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters. His talent in the saddle was to later earn him the nickname ‘The Professor’.
Despite a constant battle with his weight Higgins won almost every major race on the Australian calendar.
Some of the horses he was associated with include Gunsynd
, Leilani
, Storm Queen
and Big Philou
.
He was immortalized by winning the Melbourne Cup
twice on Light Fingers
in 1965 and Red Handed
in 1967 both for trainer Bart Cummings
.
Higgins retired from riding in 1983 declaring his ambition was “to be a little fat man”. He has continued to be employed in the Racing industry as a racing commentator on TV and radio, particularly on Melbourne radio. He also lectures in the jockey training program at the Northern Lodge Training Centre of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 June 1938 in Koondrook, Victoria
Koondrook, Victoria
Koondrook is a town situated on the Murray River, Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Gannawarra Local government area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Koondrook had a population of 802.-History:...
) is a former Australian jockey who rode in the late 1960s and the 1970s. He grew up in the southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
town of Deniliquin where he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters. His talent in the saddle was to later earn him the nickname ‘The Professor’.
Despite a constant battle with his weight Higgins won almost every major race on the Australian calendar.
Some of the horses he was associated with include Gunsynd
Gunsynd
Gunsynd was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 29 races and A$280,455 in prizemoney. In his seven starts over one mile he was only once defeated, by half-a-head in the Epsom Handicap....
, Leilani
Leilani (horse)
Leilani was a champion Thoroughbred racemare that was bred in New Zealand and raced in Australia. She won six Group One races and a total of 12 black type equivalent races, during her short racing career...
, Storm Queen
Storm Queen
Storm Queen was a notable Australian thoroughbred racehorse.A bay daughter of Coronation Boy from the mare Storm Gleam, she was foaled in 1963 and was trained throughout her career by Bart Cummings....
and Big Philou
Big Philou
Big Philou was a notable New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was by the good sire Le Filou from Pink Lady by Contact and he was trained by Bart Cummings....
.
He was immortalized by 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...
twice on Light Fingers
Light Fingers
Light Fingers was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965.The lightly built chestnut was by the highly successful sire of stayers, Le Filou, from Cuddlesome by Red Mars , by Hyperion...
in 1965 and Red Handed
Red Handed
Red Handed was a thoroughbred racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup in 1967.Bred by Jack Macky, Jr., he was owned and raced by F. W. Clarke and partners.-References:*...
in 1967 both for trainer Bart Cummings
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
.
Higgins retired from riding in 1983 declaring his ambition was “to be a little fat man”. He has continued to be employed in the Racing industry as a racing commentator on TV and radio, particularly on Melbourne radio. He also lectures in the jockey training program at the Northern Lodge Training Centre of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE is a TAFE institute located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It has six city campuses located at Preston, Collingwood, Epping, Fairfield, Greensborough, Heidelberg, a country campus at Ararat, and country training facilities at Eden...
.