WAY back in the days when the Cairns and Townsville Amateurs were two of the biggest racing carnivals in country Queensland- all the horses were ridden by amateur jockeys.
There were some good riders. Some not so good, some absolutely hopeless- (more comfortable mustering in the bush than on horseracing).
But three stood out.
New South Wales amateur jockeys Graham Purdy, Danny Williams (now a successful trainer in Goulburn) and Victorian ace Ray Douglas (also a trainer in his home state) dominated riding ranks at those north Queensland meetings.
Nobby Cairns - the part time rider and full time butcher from Hughenden - did a brave job to keep the home flag flying but he too said it was tough at time riding against what really were professional jockeys with an amateur tag.
Purdy and Williams were virtually full time jockeys and many believed that made mockery of the amateur status under which they rode at north Queensland meetings.
The duo proved themselves many times while riding against the pros down south
And naturally they were in great demand, they commanded full books at every Townsville and Cairns meeting and were booked to ride horses long before nominations closed.
They were, as Tina Turner would say…Simply the best and their record is undeniable proof.
There is no doubt too, that there was keen rivalry between the Cootamundra based Purdy and Dubbo native Williams and punters knew it.
“But I had one great advantage” recalled Purdy this week. “Ronnie Ryan used to sort out my ride- and he was a just a great judge.”
Before the professional jockeys took over Purdy won six of the previous 10 Cairns Amateur cups.
He rode five races on one Cairns Amateur Dup Day including the cup on Minor Play for Roy Chillemi and Tom Hedley.
A feat to equal his nine winners from 10 rides at the Wagga amateurs in 1982.
When it was decided (not by the clubs mind you) to switch to professional jockeys there was great resistance from the amateur clubs.
I vividly recall back in the late 1980s the then president of Townsville Amateurs Joe Goicoechea denouncing “the outside interference”.
“They are trying to ruin our tradition,” said the man who will be remembered as one of the best NQATC presidents in the club’s long history.
But his efforts for the club to remain purely amateur were in vain.
QTC, the principal club at the time, changed the status of the jockeys and some of the old timers will tell you “they changed every bloody thing, not necessarily for the better”.
Initially professional jockeys were allowed to ride against the amateurs but really, it was the beginning of the end for the amateurs, not only in Queensland but all over.
Danny Williams and Douglas went training where they have enjoyed good success, and 16 years ago Purdy bought a property at Yungaburra where he still resides today far from the more the more temperate and sometimes chilly climes of Cootamundra.
He too went training- but for all sorts of reasons gave it away two years ago after holding a license for 21 years
Records will show he had 11pc wins and 33pc placings of the horses he raced.
What the records don’t show is that his first winner as a trainer was Captain Daylight at Gordonvale in 1995- the year he gave away riding.
He had several good gallopers but says his best was Galactic which he bought as a yearling in Sydney, broke him in and won a race at Warwick Farm before bringing him north.
Galactic broke down in a race at Mareeba on Melbourne Cup day and had to be put down.
The records also don’t show Purdy as a 15 year old riding a horse named Little Rajah in a picnic maiden at a place called Come - by - Chance somewhere between Coonabarabran and Bourke. Nor do they show his first winner at a tiny place named Pilaga on a horse called Little Rodney. But the jockey remembers.
Purdy by his late teens had outgrown his ambition to be a full time professional jockey so instead became an apprentice carpenter.
He later took a job at the Mike Willesee's Transmedia Stud at Cootamundra where at one stage he had, as foreman, 375 horses under his care.
That was when he started riding seriously as an amateur and when he hung up his boots 10 years later had amassed 1250 winners - some sort of a record for an amateur jockey.
Purdy enjoyed it all in his casual lay back style. He enjoyed the atmosphere of country racing and as a trainer always had a runner or two at Mt Garnet where he was known to have the “liveliest” camp in the days when the May day weekend at Garnet was a “must” venue for racing men and their families from Giru to the gulf and all points in between.
There were highs and lows, of course, but he reckons he made the most of the good days and “let the bad days look after themselves.’’
After he stopped riding Purdy got involved with the Atherton Turf Club- a track he calls home- and he was an active committeeman for 12 years before he retired just six weeks ago.
He still rides out every day - but not in a saddle.
In a golf buggy. It’s safer that way.
And would he do it all again?
“Bloody oath I would”