Episode 378: Harry Troy

Received a surprise email from Harry Troy who says he’s a regular listener to our podcasts in Macau. It suddenly struck me that we hadn’t recorded a chat with this man. What a diversified life he’s had as a bookie’s clerk, jockey, publisher and long time Macau race caller.  We begin by looking back on the riding contract that first took him to Macau in 1997. Harry looks back on his decision to quit the saddle when an opportunity came up to become a parade yard commentator for Macau Jockey Club television. Later he was appointed understudy to the resident race caller. He looks back on his early race calling experience in the NSW western districts. Harry talks of the first few weeks of his new race calling career. After a tentative beginning he settled into it quickly. He was in the chair for twenty years. He pays tribute to the best horse he’s seen in Macau. Harry begins his trip down memory lane by looking back on his early life as one of ten kids. His father was a bush bookmaker who worked at race meetings right through NSW and into Queensland. The kids went with him in an old red truck. Harry talks of the many bush schools he attended. He remembers the day his father “Billy” invited him to record the bets at a country race meeting. The former successful jockey talks of a troubled relationship with his father which saw him leave home to join a brother in Walgett. He looks back on a happy five years as a jackeroo at Kee Kee Station. During this period he became an amateur jockey, winning his first race at Enngonia on a horse called Blue Cargo. Harry talks of his apprenticeship to Albert Hazlett in Walgett and the start of his professional career. He swaps a few tales from the era. He looks back on the huge mileage he travelled to ride at remote race meetings, and his marriage to first wife Lyn. At this point he mentions his introduction to the hardware and building supplies business. Harry reflects on multiple premiership wins including a national title in the 93/94 season. He talks of his battles with rival jockey Dennis Firth.  He looks back on his permanent move to the Hunter Valley and the birth of his three sons. He remembers the frustration of a race fall weeks before he was due to move his family into a new home. That was one of several nasty race falls in which Harry was involved. He’s never forgotten the thrill of receiving a special award in 1994 for his contribution to NSW country racing. The former jockey remembers the season he rode 122 NSW winners but missed out on the state premiership. We get Harry reminiscing about some of his favourite horses, and his “one off” ride on a horse destined to gain infamy in Australian turf history. He nominates a few jockeys for whom he had special admiration, with special mention of a recently departed riding legend. Harry talks of his Macau marriage to second wife Anna and the two stepsons. Who came into his life. The widely travelled Harry Troy winds up our interview by looking at his likely future. This man has crammed two lifetimes into one. He’s a great listen.