Episode 326: Keagan Latham

Keagan is counting down the minutes to a specialist appointment on November 10th when he hopes to gain a clearance to ride again. He talks about the seemingly harmless tumble at Hawkesbury that left him with multiple injuries.  He reflects on a wonderful season that brought him more than a century of winners and a provincial premiership.  Keagan talks of his South African childhood and induction into the famed Durban Jockeys Academy. He reminisces about his very first winning ride for  his master Duncan Howells on the Scottsville track and his transfer to the  legendary trainer Mike De Kock. Keagan looks back on the surprise offer from the United Arab Emirates. De Kock encouraged him to grab the opportunity. He actually won a different kind of Gr 1 race in Dubai. He talks of the chance meeting with a famous jockey which led to a riding stint in Ireland. He had four good seasons there. Keagan reflects on a flying visit to England which brought him a Gr 2 win. The much travelled jockey looks back on a short stint in Mauritius. He talks of a return to the UK and a relationship with a young lady who worked for a prominent trainer. That lady is now Mrs Keagan Latham. The story of his move to Australia and his first morning at Randwick trackwork makes for interesting listening. Keagan talks of his first winning ride in Australia and a hurried trip back to England for his marriage to Nancy. He reflects on his gradual rise through the ranks in NSW and his decision to concentrate on the provincial and near country circuit. Keagan talks about his trackwork involvement. He attends when not travelling a long distance to a race meeting. He acknowledges the trainers who’ve given him continued support and talks about a Scone Cup win for Maher/Eustace. The jockey talks about the major Queensland win which eventuated when the winner of the race returned a positive swab. Keagan talks about his unusual recreation away from racing- a different kind of horsepower.