Episode 328: Alan ‘Jock‘ Gollogly

Delighted to catch up with a bloke who boasts a racing pedigree to match that of any thoroughbred blueblood. Alan Gollogly is the son of the former successful Queensland jockey of the same name, and the grandson of Fred Best who won 17 Brisbane trainer’s premierships. Throw in his uncle, champion jockey Noel Best for good measure. “Jock” talks of his current role as official track clocker for top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees. He talks of the few hectic hours six mornings a week when he has to identify and clock a large number of horses. “Jock” explains that he was engaged by Kris Lees after being made redundant by the famous form newspaper “Sportsman”.   He talks about his education in the 1960’s at Brisbane’s Nudgee College. His grandfather wasn’t keen for the youngster to work in racing and actually paid his school fees. “Jock” describes the talents of the late Fred Best who is still talked about by veteran Queensland racing men. He remembers the deeds of his uncle Noel Best whose career was hindered by weight battles. He pays tribute to his late father who passed away in 1992. “Jock”  looks back on his association with classy sprinter Bengalla Lad. He rode the horse into second place in the 1972 Stradbroke, but thought he’d lose the ride in the Doomben $10,000. A loyal owner made the difference. The Newcastle clocker recalls an exciting day in 1974 when he rode five winners. He had to go to a couple of racetracks to make it happen. He reflects on an unlikely win in a Port Moresby Cup. You’ll love the story about the offer he had to ride in an earlier race. He respectfully declined. “Jock” looks back on a stint in the Queensland outback when he established an extraordinary strike rate. While living in Cunnamulla he received a shock phone call from a racing icon. He talks of eight months in Hong Kong where he was usually on the longer priced  stable runner.  Alan remembers a wonderful sequence of wins at a Grafton July carnival. He agrees his life changed forever when invited to try his luck at Newcastle by a local trainer. He enjoyed wonderful support from trainers and won a Newcastle jockeys premiership. The former jockey pays tribute to his greatest fan, 92 year old mother Joyce who’s a fixture at the local TAB. “Jock” looks back on the shock discovery of a dangerous melanoma which brought the curtain down on his riding career.  He didn’t let the grass grow under his feet. Before long he was working in a leading Newcastle Menswear store and enjoying every minute of it. He remembers his fleeting comeback two years later. He rode numerous winners but couldn’t regenerate the enthusiasm of old. “Jock” talks of the opportunities that came his way over the next few years- lengthy stints with the Newcastle Herald, Prime TV, and Sky Racing Radio. He looks back on a fun day at Randwick in 1994 when the AJC put on a race called “Golden Oldies” for former jockeys who could still do the job. He got himself on a smart one. “Jock” talks of the two legendary gallopers he got to ride in trackwork. Finally he pays tribute to long time partner Lindsay who left Brisbane to join him in Newcastle almost four decades ago. It’s a laid back yarn with a good teller of tales.