Tales Of The Past: Larry's Laurels Worth Lauding

Cover photo: Larry Cassidy driving Ravarda to victory in the 1995 QTC Castlemaine Stakes (Images: Class Racehorses, ANZ)

By Ross Stanley

Larry Cassidy’s 39 years in the saddle produced a multitude of marvellous achievements.

Arthur “Blue” Cassidy wanted to be a jockey but his parents killed off his dream. Naturally, his attitude as an adult was the reverse. The second, fourth and last born of Arthur and his wife Francie’s seven strong progeny were notables in racing silk.

Because of his weight, Ricky, the eldest of the trio, was confined to jumping events in New Zealand. The 1992 WRC Eric Riddiford Steeplechase was one of the key events claimed by the respected horseman who was apprenticed to Trevor McKee.

“Ricky would ride anything over fences even if it fell at its last three starts,” quipped Larry. 

Jimmy, a New Zealand and Australian Halls of Fame inductee, topped junior and senior tables in the Land of the Long White Cloud before shifting to Australia in 1984. His first Group 1 success was on Four Crowns in the 1981 Brisbane Cup.

The respective birth dates for Jimmy Arthur and Larry Victor Cassidy are January 21, 1963 and July 5, 1970.

THE HOMELAND CHAPTER 

The Cassidys’ parents, with no links to the turf, were regular racegoers at Wellington’s Trentham racecourse. At that time, under 18s were barred from attending so Larry and his siblings were concealed in the grandstand very early in the day so they could watch Ricky and Jimmy compete. 

Larry was indelibly inspired. Aged 12, with parental backing, he embarked on fulfilling his ambition to be a jockey. Due diligence was done and trainer Brent and Margaret Beattie’s small stable two hours away at Palmerston North was selected to be the nursery. The local pony club’s ex-racehorses set him up with extra tuition.

The lad keenly put his shoulder to the wheel and he has never taken it off. Cassidy maintained a tough regime, rising at 3.30am to go to track work, returning home at 8am before cycling around 15km to school. The work ethic for the rookies in the era was high. Importantly, a fortnightly school was held for the Central Districts’ apprentices for the entire duration of their indentureship. Nowadays, apprentices do not reside with the master. Life is significantly more independent. None of their earnings are kept in trust.

Cassidy’s debut at Trentham on an old jumper in New Deal was on the day after his 15th birthday in 1985. His first winner in the shape of Rhythm Lass at Otaki popped up 14 rides later. 

After four years and with the tally standing at 54, Larry moved a half hour east to Bruce Marsh’s Woodville yard. The new master, who took out the 1971 Melbourne Cup on Silver Knight, prepared a string of 60.

Larry recorded 50 wins in his initial season there and twice that number the following year. He drove Marsh to the races. The invaluable conversations were absorbed.

In 1988, Marsh’s sprinter Festal delivered Larry’s first Group 1 hit at Wellington. The same combination went down by a half-head in the 1991 Veuve Clicquot at Rosehill. Soon after, the 20-year-old hoop went agonisingly close at the elite level when fourth in The Galaxy (1100m) won by the brilliant Mr Tiz. He nursed Festal up the Randwick rise, gained the lead but was swamped in the final two seconds.

Marsh was always happy to travel. The duo picked up second money with Festal at Doomben in May 1990, an Eagle Farm St Leger with Sign of Gold in July 1991 and the 1993 Townsville and Rockhampton Cups with Fulmar. Larry booted home the 1990 and 1991 Grafton Cup winners Stirring and Rural Prince for other trainers. Visits were made to Melbourne and to Perth where he represented the Shaky Isles’ in an apprentices’ competition.

TRANS TASMAN MIGRATION

With six New Zealand Group 1s and more than 300 wins all up, Larry took on Sydney in 1992. Jimmy took him under his wing. His managers, Ron Dufficy and his wife Cheryl, also helped the newbie. In 2001, Larry scored for them on Sale of Century in the 2001 Rosehill Guineas. 

Earlier, L.V. Cassidy, with Jimmy’s help, was booked for Coronation Day in the 1992 George Main Stakes. Under the weight-for-age conditions, the three-year-old successfully carried 48.5kg with Kinjite and Jimmy’s steed Rough Habit completing the trifecta.

Cassidy’s pivotal association with Jack and Bob Ingham’s Crown Lodge and their private trainer John Hawkes was highly productive. In March 1997, donned in the all cerise livery, he won The Galaxy on Accomplice.

Soon after in July, Darren Beadman, the yard’s chief rider, departed to take up priestly duties. Larry Cassidy picked up the bulk of the bookings.

In 1996-97, he had ridden 37 Sydney winners. He was then crowned with three straight premierships and was the first to break the century mark each time. His 1997-98 figure was 139.5.

Cassidy scored 11 Group 1s for Hawkes and eight for Gai Waterhouse between March 1995 and November 2006. The two stables furnished three majors for Cassidy at the 1997 Randwick autumn carnival via Accomplice and the Tulloch Lodge pair Secret Savings (Doncaster) and Linesman (Sydney Cup).

Leading into the Melbourne Cup, the latter was a very strong chance of saluting. Alas, the ultra game grinder’s usual sterling demeanour was absent because of a patched up hoof. The 10/1 shot showed some defiance by running fifth. Larry’s best Cup outcomes were Na Botto’s fourth at 33s in 1990 and Oompala’s third at 50s in 1994.

John Size was another conditioner who teamed well with Cassidy.

Hawkes, renowned for his after race firefighter strength sprays at jockeys, would have been tickled pink when Larry followed directions to the absolute letter to secure the VRC Derby on Arena and the Queensland Derby on Dodge.

After the Crown Lodge days, Cassidy had stints in Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau plus participations in International Jockey Challenges in Korea and Japan.

In July 2007, the Cassidys came back to a changed Sydney landscape where getting work for Larry became a struggle. They pulled the right rein in deciding on a new start in December 2008 in Michelle’s home city, Brisbane.

AN ASSORTMENT OF CAREER HIGHS 

Larry flourished with the distaff side. A peak of excitement was the exquisite feeling generated by Winx when she powered away with the 2015 Sunshine Guineas.

The Street Cry filly, with the Queensland Oaks as her mission, had not raced for more than four weeks. The daughter of Vegas Show Girl with a 97 rating was last of 18 on the turn but really put her best foot forward to kick off an unbroken run of 33 wins and a 132 rating. It took Winx’s main partner Hugh Bowman some time to agree with Cassidy’s brightly glowing assessment of her potential.

Earlier, Larry’s association with the imposing and firmly minded Sunline came about because her trainer Trevor McKee dialled a wrong number. He was after Jimmy but Larry answered, identified himself and was told “You’ll do!”

Their connection posted an 11: 6-3-0 form line that encompassed wins in the 1998 Tea Rose-Furious -Flight Stakes treble, an Auckland event with 62.5kg, the 1999 Doncaster and Warwick Stakes.

The highly promising Crown Lodge filly Unworldly, displayed a level of ability that suggested she would become a member of the august band of female thoroughbreds. 

Cassidy had the reins when she swept up the Furious-Tea Rose-Flight Stakes series in October 2000. Sadly, the veteran of just six starts then broke down hopelessly in a Sydney gallop. Larry got off post haste. The stricken filly stood still as he cradled her neck and wept.

In October 1993 Larry suggested that his future wife Michelle come down from Brisbane to partake in her first Australian raceday.

He won the opener on Social Rule and the Epsom on Golden Sword. Michelle was on the fence taking in the presentation when the John Meagher prepared chestnut freakishly made a beeline over to her. Possibly the four legged Victorian took a liking to her bright floral outfit. Anyway, Michelle got to pat him.

AN ASSORTMENT OF CAREER LOWS 

On July 1, 2000, in the Eye Liner at Ipswich, Gary Doughty was seriously injured with vision and hearing losses part of the toll when his mount River Affair clipped Pittance’s heels as Cassidy started his run. 

Larry’s level of sorrow over Gary’s plight was increased 10 days later when Peter Pascoe, Pittance’s Wagga Wagga owner, was killed in a car accident. Larry had a great strike rate with Pittance and his close friend’s other galloper Pemberton.

Although Cassidy had some mishaps along the way, the final decade or so were extraordinarily tormenting. 

A four-horse fall at Doomben in November 2011 left him with five broken ribs, knee damage and a six-week time out.

In 2015, a condition known as osteonecrosis put his feet out of play for three months. Fortunately, it rectified itself.

In early May that year he felt some slight twinges. Two weeks after Winx’s race he experienced excruciating pain when he landed awkwardly from Blueberry Hill post-race at Doomben on June 6. He had torn the meniscus in both knees. 

Almost 18 devastatingly frustrating months after the initial diagnosis, Larry played his own hunch. Bruce Marsh used to toughened the legs of his young horses by using the hardness of roads. Cassidy followed suit with a jogging routine. Gradually the pain eased and the ploy bore fruit.

The victory on Sony Legend at Doomben on September 10, 2016 was exceptionally satisfying, even if runner up Prompt Return was inappropriately named considering Cassidy’s ultra long period in a wilderness. 

Then in July 2023 Larry underwent an operation for a chronic back problem. Two months later he resumed but after just a few rides, the problem recurred. Treatment and recovery consumed two more months.

His November 2023 comeback was very short-lived. At the end of a gallop at Eagle Farm alongside Michael Rodd, Cassidy’s mount inexplicably veered leftwards. 

The upshot was a broken left index finger. At one stage, amputation was mentioned. The mechanics of the injury impacted on control. Larry’s pursuits such as golf and guitar playing were affected. Although managing a horse seemed impossible, Larry tried valiantly for 12 months to improve. He still loved race-riding. The aim was 3,000. The count had stalled at a magnificent aggregate of 2,845 wins.

ASPECTS OF QUEENSLAND 

During a long weekend in June 2000, Larry had garnered the Queensland Derby with Freemason for the Inghams and, for Geoff and Beryl White, the Brisbane Cup with Yippyio. The latter had earnt the Queensland Derby riband for Jimmy in 1997.

Vindication for the northward move came swiftly. Larry and the John Wheeler-trained Court Ruler defied Shocking in the 2009 Queensland Derby. Ironically the minor placegetter was Larry’s Never Late.

In the spring, Shocking took out The Lexus and the Melbourne Cup and later added the 2011 Australian Cup to his resume.

Cassidy ticked another box when he tied with the late Stathi Katsidis with 72 wins in the Premiership for his first full season in Brisbane.

A host of trainers at Eagle Farm and other centres have availed themselves of Cassidy’s skills and reliability. Also in play is mutual loyalty.

After more than a year, two surgeries, countless painful physiotherapy sessions and several adverse medical reports about his finger, Larry had to drop the curtain on his stellar career in December 2024.

Caloundra trainer Louise White’s charge Irish Songs was his last ride. The pair ran seventh at Doomben on November 25, 2023. At the Sunshine Coast on September 24, 2023, the stablemate Hakkai Maru was his final winner. He had plied his trade at roughly 40 different tracks in New Zealand with its anti-clockwise circuits. The Australian total exceeded 50.

THE WRAP 

Larry Cassidy’s talent for race reading and implementing strategies was demonstrated in a pre-race interview conducted before he won his first Singapore Derby on Smart Bet. He predicted its pattern, his positions, his moves and pointers about his rivals.

“The race turned out exactly that way, as though I’d watched a replay before it was actually run,” Cassidy said.

The Cassidys are a close-knit family. Michelle, a former nurse, has been a tower of strength with her crucial support of Larry’s programs. Diet and nutrition, rehabilitation management and meticulous record keeping are just some of the topics.

Their son Luke is a doctor in residence at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital. Later, his field in Brisbane is likely to be in critical care or anaesthetics. Their daughter Jade is co-ordinator of Volunteers at Guide Dogs Australia and she has a strong interest in the performing arts. 

Cassidy’s other pursuits include making investments and playing poker under the name of Last Race Larry.

He has actively contributed to the Queensland Jockeys Association’s agenda and won’t be lost to racing. Stewarding and a role with apprentices are avenues being explored.

Sydney commentator John Tapp, the doyen who called many of Cassidy’s memorable victories, provided ideal summative words in his April 2, 2024 podcast: “Larry, you’ve been a very committed, hard-working, professional jockey all the way through. You’ve been greatly respected by all sections of the racing industry and, from a media viewpoint, I can vouch for the fact that you’ve been a pleasure to deal with.”

HONOUR ROLL

1988 Wellington, FESTAL, Elders Stks; Wellington, MORAR, Telegraph Hcp

1989 Riccarton, FINNEGAN FOX, 2000 Guineas

1991 Wellington, LETS SGOR,NZ Oaks; Auckland, LETS SGOR, Champagne Stks

1992, Auckland, CONIFER, Champagne Stks; Randwick, CORONATION DAY, George Main Stks

1993 Randwick, MARCH HARE, George Main Stks; Randwick, GOLDEN SWORD, Epsom Hcp; 

1994 Rosehill, KAPCHAT, Winfield Classic; 

1995 Rosehill, STONY BAY, Ranvet Stks; Randwick, IVORY’S IRISH, AJC Derby; Eagle Farm, RAVARDA, Castlemaine Stks; 

1996 Warwick Farm, JUGGLER, Chipping Norton Stks; Eagle Farm, ARCTIC SCENT, Queensland Oaks;

1997 Randwick, SECRET SAVINGS, Doncaster Hcp; Randwick, ACCOMPLICE, The Galaxy; Randwick, LINESMAN, Sydney Cup; 

1998 Randwick, DRACULA, Champagne Stks; Eagle Farm, DRACULA, Sires Produce Stks; Eagle Farm, DODGE, Queensland Derby; Randwick, DRACULA, George Main Stks; Randwick, SUNLINE, Flight Stks; Randwick, DODGE, Epsom Hcp; Randwick, IN JOYMENT Metropolitan Hcp; Flemington, ARENA, VRC Derby; 

1999 Rosehill, ARENA, Canterbury Guineas; Randwick, SUNLINE, Doncaster Hcp;           

2000 Eagle Farm, FREEMASON, Queensland Derby; Eagle Farm, YIPPYIO, Brisbane Cup; Randwick, UNWORLDLY, Flight Stks; 

2001 Rosehill, SALE OF CENTURY, Rosehill Guineas; 

2002 Rosehill, CARNEGIE EXPRESS, Rosehill Guineas; Kranji, SMART BET, Singapore Derby; 

2003 Kranji, LEAD TO VICTORY, Singapore Derby; 

2004 Randwick, WILD IRIS, AJC Oaks; 

2005, Eagle Farm, PORTLAND SINGA, Brisbane Cup; Randwick, DESERT WAR, Epsom Hcp; Flemington, LOTTERIA, Myer Classic-Empire Rose Stakes; 

2006 Randwick, TERANABA, Spring Championship Stks; Warwick Farm DESERT WAR, Chipping Norton Stks

2009 Eagle Farm, COURT RULER, Queensland Derby.