Another Pawsey hoping to join FNQ jockey ranks

Image credit: Peter Roy

By Jordan Gerrans

As far back as her memory goes, Jade Pawsey recalls packing her father’s riding gear into a bag and being carried into the jockeys room as a youngster.

From then on, the Cairns-based teenager knew she wanted to be involved in the racing industry in one way or another.

Her father, experienced hoop Shane Pawsey, is one of the most respected riders in North Queensland and high school student Jade aims to follow him into the jockeys room in the coming years.

“I remember when I was younger, I would sit in the lounge room with him as he would pack his race gear and we would go to the races, watch him ride,” Jade said of the family's time in Canberra before relocating to FNQ.

“When we were really young, my sister and I, we would get carried in the jockeys room – I just always remember being around it.

“Even from that age, I knew I wanted to be involved in racing and ride.”

At 51 years of age and having ridden over 500 winners in the ACT, NSW and Queensland, Shane is fronting up to work and having his daughter Jade, and at times his second youngster daughter, Brooke, in a stable just metres away.

Jade has been dreaming of starting an apprenticeship as a jockey for years, taking her first steps towards it while strapping and being a stable hand for Cairns trainer Fred Wieland, while Brooke has also done similar – helping out popular Cairns trainer Rodney Miller.

Shane jokes that having his two eldest daughters around the stables shows his age, but is proud to see them enjoying the industry that has given him so much.  

“It is a reality check when you see them but it is about mentoring them and talking to them, even driving home from the track after they have worked, talking to them about the positives and the negatives of what they are doing,” Shane said.

“It is certainly great to have them alongside me in the industry.”

Shane has endured several hurdles in his pursuit to continue riding over the last few years, fracturing a bone in his neck in 2020 that put him on the sidelines for months, having a cancer scare and constant battles with his weight.

Now riding six horses a morning before working a 10-hour day at Uninet Enclosure Systems, a company which builds stinger nets for beaches, Shane’s determination and worth-ethic has inspired Jade.

“It was not until Dad’s comeback in 2018 that is really when I started to understand, I was old enough to understand, that being in racing was what I really wanted to do,” Jade said.

“Dad had not ridden for about three years then when he made his comeback and seeing as I was older and understood it and Dad rode a winner on his first day back, I liked being around the atmosphere and the horses, as well as seeing Dad do what he loves.

“Dad is one of the people I have looked up to most, he has struggled with his weight and had a lot of injury setbacks, he is still always so positive and genuine.”