Episode 339: Pam O‘Neill

The former trailblazing jockey talks of her childhood involvement with horses in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot. Pam remembers how she bristled when trying to lead a racehorse onto Eagle Farm racecourse before having to hand it over to a male. She recalls her first battle- the right to ride trackwork. Eventually she got the authorities to agree to the staging of ladies races only. Pam talks of the historic Gold Coast meeting when she became the first woman to compete against men. There were a few red faces when she booted home three winners. She remembers her bitter disappointment when Kiwi Linda Jones was granted permission to ride at Doomben. At the time Pam was restricted to outside tracks. The former jockey recalls the amazing invitation she received to ride in Japan. Pam talks of the cancer scare she endured on returning from Japan. She reminisces about some of her favourite horses with special mention of Supersnack. She was shattered to lose the ride on the brilliant sprinter Breakfast Creek. Pam looks at her life as a mother and grandmother. She pays tribute to late husband Colin O’Neill, a former top jockey and successful trainer. Since the interview was recorded, Pam has added yet another accolade to her list of credits. The race formerly known as the Glenlogan Park Stakes and Queensland Sapphire Stakes, is now known as the Pam O’Neill Stakes. Nobody deserves the honour more. She’s also acquired one more honorary administrative post- Acting President of the Queensland Jockeys Association. Pammy you brought it all on yourself.