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Indigenous youth in Victoria will have greater opportunities to progress a career in the racing industry with the launch of the Darby McCarthy Indigenous Scholarship at the National Sports Museum, MCG, today.
Launched by the Minister for Racing, The Hon Martin Pakula MP, the scholarship has been developed by Racing Victoria (RV) in partnership with the Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE), which aims to nurture the next generation of Indigenous leaders.
Darby McCarthy, one of the greatest-ever Indigenous jockeys and a long-time advocate of Indigenous participation in the racing industry, was a special guest at the event where he helped launch the scholarship and met with students from the KAE.
As part of the event, Minister Pakula and McCarthy also launched the Indigenous Participation in Racing Exhibition Showcase in the Champions Gallery at the Australian Racing Museum to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s Indigenous jockeys.
Open to the public from today, the centrepiece of the Showcase is a gold-mounted whip awarded to McCarthy in 1969 when he won the prestigious Australian Jockey Club Derby and Epsom Handicap double at Randwick Racecourse.
McCarthy’s successful career as a jockey incorporated more than 1000 wins across the 1960s and 1970s including victories in a number of feature races in Melbourne such as the 1973 Group 2 VRC Linlithgow Stakes on All Shot, the 1977 Group 2 V.A.T.C. Memsie Stakes on Wave King, the 1978 Group 2 V.A.T.C. Orr Stakes and the 1978 Group 3 V.A.T.C. Carlyon Cup both on Hyperno.
At the completion of his riding career, McCarthy gained a training qualification to help Indigenous youth pursue careers in the racing industry. He will be involved with mentoring the inaugural Darby McCarthy Indigenous Scholarship recipient, as well as other students at KAE who have demonstrated an interest in a career in the racing industry.
As part of the scholarship, RV will provide one student from KAE the opportunity to be part of a four week work placement in the industry, mentoring support and $5,000 towards their education development.
Victorian Minister for Racing, The Hon Martin Pakula, said “Darby McCarthy was a trailblazer for indigenous jockeys, riding more than 1,000 race winners in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
“His perseverance to succeed in the racing industry in the 60s and 70s cannot be underestimated, and I am certain his story will inspire our scholarship recipients to strive for a successful career in racing.”
RV Chief Executive, Bernard Saundry, said RV was pleased to introduce the scholarship to encourage and support Indigenous youth who have an interest in entering the racing industry.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the KAE to offer the Darby McCarthy Indigenous Scholarship to build on great work the Academy does in assisting local Indigenous youth to continue on to further education and training,” Saundry said.
“Through the scholarship we will provide support and guidance for a student from the Academy through mentoring, workplace experience and monetary assistance for further education, to help them pursue a successful career in the racing industry and become leader in the community.
“Our Strategic Plan for the industry identifies the need to have a diverse and inclusive industry and this scholarship is designed to reduce the barriers which some people can face in gaining employment in racing.”
Koorie Academy of Excellence Chairman, Professor Mark Rose, said “The Koorie Academy of Excellence is proud to partner with Racing Victoria in assisting us to grow the next generation of Koorie leaders. The scholarship provided will create opportunities for our members to follow their dream into a pathway for further education.”
Australian Racing Museum Chairman, Barbara Saunders, said “The Australian Racing Museum is thrilled to recognise Indigenous participation in thoroughbred racing in the National Sports Museum’s Champions Gallery as a permanent showcase. We thank Darby for donating his prized gold-mounted whip as well as lending a racing saddle which he used during the latter part of his riding career.”
Five students from KAE who have an interest in pursuing a career in racing were in attendance at the Scholarship and Showcase launch before they travelled with McCarthy to a racing careers taster at the Geelong Racecourse for the day’s Victorian race meeting.
As part of the careers taster afternoon the students will be exposed to a number of career prospects within the industry with presentations by Steward Corie Waller, Vet Michelle Ledger, Race Caller Adam Crettenden and Apprentice Jockey Stephanie Thornton.
Following the careers taster session, students interested in applying for the scholarship will submit a paper from which one successful student will be chosen.
To mark the occasion, the Darby McCarthy Handicap will also be run at the Geelong race meeting today as Race 4 (2.06pm) to recognise McCarthy’s longstanding contribution to the industry. Following the race McCarthy will present a trophy to the winning owners.
