Episode 432: Stephen Traecey

Stephen Traecey recently told family and friends he’s unlikely to ride in races again but most didn’t believe him. The remarkable 67 year old last rode in a race at Coffs Harbour in June. His last winner was in March on the same track. It suited Stephen to just fade away unnoticed, but I was having none of that. This man has given tremendous service over many years to racing in northern NSW and deserves due recognition. I hope this podcast serves as a lasting tribute to a bloke who just loves riding racehorses. Stephen says family and friends have taken his retirement announcement with a grain of salt. He admits that he hasn’t yet made a clean break. He’s still riding up to eight horses in trackwork most days of the week. Stephen acknowledges some of the trainers who continue to seek his services at trackwork. He talks of the two year old filly purchased online recently by wife Donna. He doesn’t exactly rule out the possibility of a comeback if the filly gets to the races. The veteran looks back on his last race ride, and his last winner Anotherbalconyboy. Stephen says he and Donna now live on the property previously occupied by Takeover Target’s trainer Joe Janiak. He looks back on his association with the former champion sprinter. He talks of childhood days in Balmain and his family’s association with a local swimming legend. Stephen pays tribute to his late father Bill, a successful jockey in his own right. He looks back on his dad’s decision to move his family to NZ after being injured in a race fall. Bill became stable foreman to a legendary trainer. He recalls the family’s move back to Australia and Bill’s return to the saddle. This time he rode trackwork alongside his father. Stephen reflects on his interview with Theo Green, already emerging as a master tutor of apprentices. Unfortunately there were no vacancies. He looks back on his short apprenticeship to Rosehill trainer Jack Norman, and the trackwork fall that left him with a broken leg. Stephen takes us back to his move back to the bush, and a new apprenticeship with Bill Thompson at Gunnedah. He has vivid recollections of his very first race win, and a move to the Peter Cleal stables. The veteran jockey takes us through the horrific car accident that could have claimed his life. He remembers the long rehabilitation period in Sydney, and the ramifications of the brain trauma sustained in the accident.  Stephen acknowledges the support of a country racing steward who helped to get him back on track. The jockey looks back on his return to race riding exactly three years after the Grafton road accident. He’s never forgotten his first win on the comeback trail- the race that reinvented him as a jockey. He pays a special tribute to Ross Stitt, the man who trained the horse in question. He continued to ride horses for Ross until very recently. Stephen talks of his affinity with the unique Bowraville track in the Nambucca Valley. He recalls with affection his long time association with Grafton trainer John Shelton and their joint success with Mother’s Gift in the time honoured Ramornie Hcp. Steve remembers the morning in flood time at Grafton when John Shelton told him not to come to trackwork. The trainer was amazed when he turned up as usual. Traecey says he rode in Brisbane many times but had only one ride in Sydney. He remembers his second placing at Randwick on a Ross Stitt trained mare. He talks of the current “toe-in” riding style used by the majority of modern day jockeys. He says he was happy to give it a try.  Stephen pays tribute to some of the great jockeys he’s ridden with on the northern rivers. He looks back on a Coffs Harbour Cup win by a huge margin. Stephen is proud to have an NRRA Jockey’s Premiership win on his CV. He makes special mention of his four children from previous marriages. It was an absolute delight to pay homage to a champion of northern NSW racing.