Episode 417: Paul Jarman

When we wound up our podcast with Stan Aitken last September he suggested we should consider talking to his great mate and former fellow Melbourne jockey Paul Jarman. Stan supplied the phone number and we made contact with Paul who was a little shy about doing the interview. We talked him into it, and I hope he enjoyed it half as much as I did. Paul Jarman more than held his own among an elite group of jockeys and won some very famous races along the way. Paul talks about his decision to quit the saddle at just 39 years of age.   Always a bloke who tended to make things happen, Paul enrolled for a building and construction course at TAFE. He looks back on the beginning of his new career. Paul says the Gold Coast was the place to be for any aspiring builder in the late 1980’s. His judgement proved correct. During his busy twelve years in the building trade he found the perfect diversion in fishing and crabbing. He talks about his passion for both pursuits. The former top jockey talks about yet another offbeat hobby. Paul is an experienced apiarist of all things. Paul talks of childhood days in Melbourne and his apprenticeship to Jack Besanko at the famous Epsom training centre. He talks about the trainer’s popular nickname. He revisits the occasion of his first race ride on one of the Besanko team at Mornington. Paul says he had 32 rides before his first winner came up. He’s never forgotten the 13fls race at Werribee. The horse was trained by Des McCormick. He looks back on his first city winner at Caulfield in 1964. The horse started at 100/1.  The multiple Gr 1 winning jockey was champion Melbourne apprentice three times in the 1960’s. He credits the support of many trainers. His premiership wins earned him a start in a jockey’s invitation race at Morphettville in 1966. He still can’t believe he stole the prize from some of Australia’s most elite riders. Paul looks back on the thrill of being offered the ride on Savoy in the Victoria Derby by respected trainer Ken Hilton. He cherishes the memory of his 1970 W.S Cox Plate victory on the Geoff Murphy trained Abdul. He and Murphy devised a daring plan which came off in spectacular fashion. Paul looks back on his association with Murphy whose talents as a trainer were matched only by his fiery post race disposition. Jarman talks of another Murphy trained horse who was at the centre of perhaps his greatest disappointment. He has no doubt severe interference cost him the 1971 Golden Slipper.  Paul remembers his great friendship with the legendary Roy Higgins. He says Higgins once presented him with a special gift. He looks back on a memorable winning day at Woodend on horses trained by his future father-in-law Bill Warke. He acknowledges his fifty years of marriage to the former Lyn Warke. Paul looks back on his twelve or thirteen Melbourne Cup rides. He managed two fourths. He says it was a privilege to go around so many times in the iconic race. One of his Cup rides ended in disaster. He cherishes the memory of race rides on legendary horses Tauto and All Shot. Paul looks back on an unexpected opportunity to ride in Ireland for trainer Kevin Prendergast. He and his new wife Lyn enjoyed the experience for two seasons. He won an Irish St Leger and enjoyed the experience of riding in some famous English classics. He even had a brief brush with royalty. On returning to Melbourne he hit an unexpected low point at Pakenham. He’s very open in his recollections of a disqualification. He still believes he was hard done by. In the late 1970’s the astute Andy White entrusted him with the ride on emerging stayer Big Print. In winning his second Vic Derby, Paul defeated the legendary Kingston Town. Paul has fond memories of his association with the legendary trainer Bob Hoysted. He highlights a couple of talented horses he got to ride for the champion horseman. The former ace jockey enjoyed a Tasmanian Derby win on Sobrikay in 1984. He looks back on a surprise Ascot Vale Stakes win on 140/1 “pop” Zephyr Cross in 1986. Paul talks of a career ending fall at Sandown in 1987. He decided on an early exit from race riding. Paul pays tribute to son Ben, daughter Tammy and six grandchildren. The entire family are together in Queensland. This is one for those who were around in the heady days of Melbourne racing in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and for younger people who are curious about the skills of the top jockeys of the era.