Dylan Turner to honour late mate in the saddle

By Jordan Gerrans

On the first anniversary of the death of one of his closest mates, Gold Coast jockey Dylan Turner is about to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to his passion for men’s mental health. 

The in-form hoop has pledged to donate all his riding earnings from his book of engagements this Saturday at the Gold Coast to Beyond Blue. 

If Turner rides up to his recent prolific form this Saturday, then the fundraising efforts should be sizeable. 

The Kiwi hoop claimed the $80,000 Port Macquarie Sprint last Friday before collecting a winning double on his home track at Aquis Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Turner’s late mate Johnathan Parkes committed suicide on October 18 of last year at age 35 following a long battle with his mental health demons.

This coming Saturday’s program from the Gold Coast will mark the first anniversary since he passed and Turner is keen to honour his former friend and hopefully help others who are struggling with depression and other mental concerns.

“Instead of going out for a few beers with friends on an anniversary like this, I want to donate money to the mental health charity and save someone in the future,” the 31-year-old hoop says. 

“Hopefully this can help someone in the future, so it doesn’t happen to them, like it happened to him. 

“I have always believed that there is a massive stigma around men not being able to ask for help because they don’t want to be called weak or soft, they don’t want that pressure put on them.

“I want to do this to showcase that people can ask for help.

“Hopefully this helps people ask for help more and the money that I do raise can go to Beyond Blue to help people who need it.”

Turner claimed the Townsville Cup earlier this year and scored in a feature event for one of his major supporters when Scud won well in the Port Macquarie Sprint for conditioner Paul Shailer on Friday. 

Scud won by almost two lengths.

“Dylan is riding well and he is reaping the rewards,” Shailer said.

“He is being really consistent and he is riding at a consistent level.”

Before Parkes’ tragic death, he achieved over 1,000 winners in New Zealand and won 62 black-type events including 12 Group 1s.

He spent a period of time riding trackwork in Australia before he passed away last year.

The high-level New Zealand hoop was planning towards having a crack across the ditch alongside his close mate Turner.

“He had always struggled with mental health and it took his toll on him for a number of years,” Turner said about Parkes.

“The last time I spoke to him, he was trying to transition from New Zealand racing to Australia.

“He did a three-month stint here riding trackwork, and wanted to ride in races, but he missed home and eventually went back.

“A month later, he was gone.

“He wanted to have a good crack at riding here in Australia. He was a top jockey back home.”

Turner has received more city opportunities in recent times as well as scoring the feature Townsville Cup aboard Quothquan for Darling Downs conditioner John Dann. 

He recently revealed he had given up drinking alcohol after admitting he had long battled with it for some time. 

“Mental health has always been an important thing for me,” Turner said.

“When I was drinking, my mental health was rather bad.

“I lost my father through mental health when I was a kid, as well.

“It is obviously a big part of me and who I am.

“What I am doing this Saturday, hopefully it can help one person or a 100 people.”

Ahead of the fundraising efforts on Saturday, Turner says he has received support from stables such as Shailer, Declan Maher as well as the Sears family, among others, who are keen to donate to the cause.

There have been several NZ participants who will be donating to the cause, as well.

He has also spoken with other family and friends who will be dipping into their pockets for the great cause.

While it still is early in the week ahead of Saturday’s acceptances, Turner says Stoicism from the Jason Patton stable will be a good chance to break through maiden ranks and put some cash in the mental health kitty.

If Turner has a quiet day in the saddle on Saturday and doesn’t raise too much from his riding exploits, he says he will donate around $2,500 from his own pocket to ensure Beyond Blue is being supported.

If you are interested in supporting Dylan Turner's fundraising efforts, donations can be made at - Men’s Mental Health • Fundraise for Beyond Blue