Episode 354: Gary Kliese

Gary Kliese has been a fixture on the Skychannel service from NSW northern tracks for 23 years. He was appointed and tutored by Graham McNeice who remains his greatest supporter. Gary begins by sharing his sadness about the recent flooding which has seriously impacted his hometown of Ballina. He remembers the fateful phone call to Graham McNeice which resulted in a career after race riding.  He talks of the many tracks to which he travels to present Sky’s race day service, and the time he spends on form analysis between race meetings. Gary’s travel schedule is punishing. He usually returns home to Ballina when his Sky commitments are completed. He pays tribute to the participants who are happy to join him on air to discuss the prospects of their horses. He pays a special tribute to regular co-host Priscilla Looker. Gary also acknowledges the contribution of Melinda Graham who filled in during Priscilla’s absence on maternity leave. Back to his riding days, and Gary talks of his apprenticeship to the late Bruce McLachlan. He shares the story of McLachlan’s plan to give his apprentice a first up win. Torrential rain on the Gold Coast brought the plan undone, but the story had a happy ending. Gary looks back with dismay on a twelve months disqualification which continues to be a thorn in his side. His first day back in the saddle had a fairy tale ending. The former talented jockey expresses his admiration for the skills of Henry Davis- the man he regards as the best trainer he ever knew. He looks back on a winner he rode for Davis at Eagle Farm. Gary reflects on his marriage to Jenny Powell in 1981 and a move to Ballina to escape Brisbane’s powerful riding ranks. He talks of sons Luke and Brad who were always too big to be jockeys but made their marks as horsemen in other pursuits. Gary talks of his flying start on the northern rivers and the Murwillumbah race fall which should never have happened. A knee injury put him on the sidelines for twelve months. When he resumed, the new season was already two months in. He looks back on the sensational winning run which saw him get up to win his first NRRA premiership. He started the next season with a flurry of winners but then lady luck turned her back again. Gary graphically describes the most freakish of accidents which put him out for another twelve months. He talks of a chance meeting with an eminent orthopaedic surgeon. You’ll love Gary’s story about the show horse he rode every day to strengthen his leg before a return to race riding. The horse happened to be a thoroughbred but had never raced. Mr. Kliese changed all of that. He talks of another two NRRA premierships, and pays tribute to his two favourite northern rivers trainers. He also acknowledges the jockeys for whom he had special admiration. We take Gary back to his early days in Brisbane when he got to ride some very smart horses. He rates his favourites. The sixty one year old reflects with sadness on the loss of sister Lorraine and brother Raymond in 1992. The siblings died only six months apart. Gary sends a cheerio to sister Narelle in Maroochydore and brother Graham who’s still booting home the winners in north Queensland. Gary Kliese was still riding regular winners in 1996 when another bizarre accident brought down the curtain on a career he loved. His mount Lukawae snapped a foreleg in the straight at Coffs Harbour and speared his jockey to the track. Another runner crashed over the top of Lukawae and landed on top of the hapless Kliese. He was left with no feeling from the neck down. His account of the aftermath is pretty distressing. Gary finishes on a bright note as he reflects on eleven years as a Ballina Jockey Club Committeeman, three of those years as Chairman. This is a laid back chat with one of Sky Racing’s most respected presenters and a former jockey of considerable talent.