Darby McCarthy

Australian jockey (1944–2020)

Richard Laurence "Darby" McCarthy OAM (1944 – 6 May 2020) was an Australian jockey.

Early life

McCarthy was born in a sandhills camp at Cunnamulla in Queensland, the son of Albert and Kate, who married at 13.

Career

He became one of Australia's best jockeys in the 1950s and 60s, and did much to further the Aboriginal cause.

Olympian runner Cathy Freeman said of him:

Darby influenced me and encouraged me to strive for excellence in all that I do and to persevere against all odds and for this I will forever be thankful... We first met in Queensland when I was 15 and Darby and his family were kind enough to let me stay on weekends away from boarding school at Toowoomba. (quoted in Against all Odds)

McCarthy raced frequently in Brisbane, where his records include three Stradbrokes, the Brisbane Cup and the Doomben 10,000 before he moved to Sydney.

He won the 1969 AJC Derby on Divide And Rule and the Epsom with Broker's Tip on the same day.

McCarthy then went on to race in Europe, including at Royal Ascot and in Paris, before a brief retirement and further riding in New Caledonia.^[1] He was inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame during the Industry Awards Night held in Brisbane, July 2004.^[2]

Death

McCarthy died on 6 May 2020, aged 76.^[3]

References

^ Tatz 2000, p. 238
^ Lingard, John (24 August 2004). "Queensland Racing Hall Of Fame - 2004". Queensland Racing. Archived from the original on 20 October 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
^ "From humble beginnings to world famous - Darby McCarthy is remembered". 7 May 2020.

Callaway, Lauren (2004). Darby McCarthy: Against All Odds. Melbourne Books. ISBN 1-877096-15-6.
Presnell, Max (18 June 2004). "The life and times of Darby McCarthy, a true master of the saddle". Sydney Morning Herald.
Tatz, Colin (2000). Black Gold: The Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press. ISBN 0-85575-367-6.
"Darby". Message Stick. ABC.