Episode 302: Gordon Spinks

We present again a 2019 chat with Gordon Spinks, a high profile jockey of the 1960’s and 70’s. Gordon talks of the heart attack he suffered while driving from Longreach to Brisbane in 2019. He didn’t realise what had happened to him. The 73 year old says his heart issues aren’t over yet. The former outstanding jockey looks back on childhood days in Sydney, and the neighbour’s pony he couldn’t wait to ride. Gordon reflects on the newspaper advertisement which led him to Theo Green’s stable. He recalls the track gallops with Theo by his side and the start of his mateship with Ron Quinton. Spinks explains why he preferred to use his middle name rather than his given christian name. Gordon remembers his very first winner at Mudgee and his initial city win. He recalls the beginning of a successful association with Tommy Smith. He was stunned when the top trainer started giving him Gr 1 rides when he was still an apprentice. Gordon has never forgotten a last to first win on NZ mare Unpainted in the 1968 Doncaster. The champion jockey looks back on his first Gr 1 win as a fully fledged jockey- again courtesy of T.J. Smith. Gordon remembers Black Onyx , a great sprinter of the 60’s and 70’s who gave him a Doomben $10,000 win. He looks back on a retainer as number two jockey for leviathan owner Stan Fox. He talks of his admiration for the stable’s top jockey Athol Mulley. Gordon talks of a “working holiday” in England where he rode for leading trainer Sam Armstrong. He remembers many a jogging session with Armstrong’s son-in-law Lester Piggott. He recalls another overseas stint at the suggestion of Irish training wizard Dermot Weld. On arriving home he began his association with Jack and Bob Ingham who were spending freely at the yearling sales. Gordon reflects on his final overseas adventure in Tehran where racing had just begun. The sport was doomed from the moment the Shah was overthrown in 1979. Older racing people will remember the deeds of Gordon Spinks. I hope younger “podcasters” will tune in to find out just how good he was in an era of outstanding jockeys.