Wayne harris jockey biography

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In 1979 Messara purchased the outstanding mare Scomeld and set off on what has become something of an obsession – to breed the very best thoroughbreds.

The result is that he has few peers as a thoroughbred breeder and racing administrator.

As the owner of Arrowfield Stud, in the Hunter Valley, in 1989 he selected and secured a majority interest in the recently retired stallion Danehill. Jointly owned with Ireland’s Coolmore Stud, Danehill reshaped the thoroughbred world, proving the viability of shuttle stallions while stunning with the quality of his offspring.

Moving between Ireland and Australia, plus one season in Japan, Danehill influenced all facets of the industry. He was the sire of 2,485 foals, of which 347 were black-type winners.

After relocating in 1996 to the stud’s present location near Scone, Arrowfield enjoyed success with the leading sire Snippets and launched the careers of three champion sire sons of Danehill.

Messara also led Australian racing through a dynamic period of major reform as Chairman of Racing NSW (2011-16) and Racing Australia (2013-16) and contributed at an international level as Vice-Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (2014-16) and author of the review of the New Zealand Racing Industry (2018). In May 2021, he became first independent Chairman of Racing Australia, before relinquishing that role in March 2022.

Arrowfield, which Messara is immensely proud of having established entirely by himself, now employs upwards of 120 people. It’s a huge business so it’s worth asking just what it is that gives him the buzz about working so hard on so many things.

“I get a huge buzz breeding good horses,” he replies simply.

A record-breaking tenure of 35 years spent as a committeeman on the Newcastle Jockey Club, the last decade as Chairman, the efforts of ‘Chairman Roy’ resulted in much more than just attendance to the Newca

Australian jockey

For other people named Wayne Harris, see Wayne Harris (disambiguation).

Wayne Francis Harris (born 17 December 1960 in Muswellbrook, New South Wales) is an Australianjockey who is best known for riding Jeune to victory in the 1994 Melbourne Cup. Wayne Harris was first apprenticed to Pat Farrell, Muswellbrook, NSW and broke all records as an apprentice (558 race wins) riding in and around the Hunter Valley region of NSW. In addition to his Melboune Cup victory, he is known widely for winning the STC Golden Slipper Stakes in 1979 aboard Century Miss for master trainer Bart Cummings. He is the youngest rider to achieve the feat. Whilst riding, Wayne rode over 1800 winners including 41 feature race winners in several countries including Australia, Ireland, Singapore and Hong Kong. He rode 35 Group One winners. Throughout his career Wayne rode for many top-line trainers including Bart Cummings, Gai Waterhouse, T.J Smith, David Hayes and Graeme Begg. His off-field battle with cancer and debilitating health conditions due to race riding is just as courageous as his on-track successes. Wayne is a regular Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Ambassador taking the coveted Lexus Melbourne Cup Trophy to communities across the land.

References

jockey

Career

A top jockey at Woodbine Racetrack and Greenwood Raceway in Toronto, in 1967 Harris relocated to race at tracks in California. At age twenty, he returned to Woodine for the 1968 running of the Queen"s Plate where he rode Merger for Western Canadian businessmen, Max Bell and Frank McMahon.

Achievements

• Harris won a number of Graded stakes races in the United States and notably rode William H. Perry"s United States. Racing Hall of Fame filly Gamely to victory in the 1968 Vanity Handicap and the 1969 Santa Monica Handicap.