Episode 338: Peter Losh

Peter begins by talking about the Central Coast stationary business he started with wife Donna after quitting the saddle in 2005. They’ve opened the doors again after the endless covid closure. Peter talks of his love for the NSW central coast where he learned to ride on a local dairy farm. He remembers the school teacher who encouraged him to consider an apprenticeship as a jockey.   Peter recalls his first trip to Sydney and the homesickness that sent him scurrying home after two days. He talks of his apprenticeship to Alan Bailey and the unforgettable early wins that would launch his career. The former popular jockey acknowledges some of his favourite horses from those early years. He pays tribute to the Randwick trainer who gave him great support, and put him on the giant horse he rates as the best he’s ever ridden.  Peter looks back on a brief metropolitan stint after completing his apprenticeship. He looks back on an exciting trip to the UK where he rode a couple of winners and formed a friendship with a true racing icon. Peter reminisces about his first association with the legendary Lester Piggot and the “catch up” years later on a  private Central Coast training property. He talks of the inevitable race falls and a record number of broken collarbones. Peter talks of his amazing ability to ride at a featherweight, and the number of big race rides he received from Tommy Smith because of that light weight. He acknowledges the trainers with whom he had successful partnerships. He rates an expatriate NZ trainer as the best he saw. The jockey made a switch to Queensland late in his career. He rode many winners in a five year stay, and got to ride a top class sprinter. Peter concludes with memories of his final day at Wyong and the shock suspension he incurred.