Episode 482: Joe Bowditch

Joe Bowditch has been a familiar face on major Australian racetracks for more than 34 years. He’s still plying his trade from a Victorian base at 47 years of age, and still riding winners. The evergreen jockey has crammed a lot into more than three decades of race riding in four states. The Joe Bowditch story makes for an interesting podcast. Currently under suspension,   he was happy to give me some time on the phone last weekend. He spoke to me from a Bundalong property owned by his great mate Luke Nolen. Joe talks about his recent Flemington win on Brazen Lady and acknowledges the support he receives from the Ellerton/Moodie stable. He talks of a long and successful association he’s had with another Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths.  Joe descends from a famous Riverina racing family. He shares memories of his father Des and uncles Barry and Wally- all accomplished jockeys. He remembers a wonderful friendship with trainer Ray Guy who was to have signed him up as an apprentice. When Ray died suddenly in 1992, his son Bryan became Joe’s master. Joe recalls having been All Our Mob’s strapper when he won at Rosehill the day after Ray’s passing. The jockey recalls travelling to Mudgee to ride his first winner thirty one years ago. He looks back on his first couple of metropolitan winners.  Joe talks about a loan-out to the famous Lindsay Park operation in SA. Colin Hayes had retired but still had a presence. He talks of the quality of horseflesh he got to work with including a Melbourne Cup winner. Joe reflects on his working relationship with both David and Peter Hayes. Peter’s death in a light plane crash impacted the entire staff at Lindsay Park. He remembers two star apprentices who came through the system during his time at the famous Angaston operation.  The jockey comments on the fact that the bulk of his career winners have been on the Morphettville track. Joe looks back on his first Gr 1 success in 2004. He had to change his tactics when the pace slowed suddenly in the middle stages of the SA Derby. He’s ridden better horses than  Conservatorium but says the genuine gelding remains his all time favourite. He talks about his narrow defeat on a future multiple Gr 1 winner in the 1996 Fulham Park Plate. Joe’s had his share of nasty falls. He talks about a crash at Morphettville in 2000 that left him with a long list of injuries. He looks back on an association with On A Jeune in 2004. He won a Cranbourne Cup on the gelding and went on to ride him in the Melbourne Cup of the same year. Joe looks back on a brief stint at Corowa as stable rider for the legendary Riverina trainer Richard Freyer. He talks of a surprise phone call from his former master Bryan Guy- a call that led him to a six year stay in Queensland. Joe reviews the highs and lows of that Queensland sojourn- some major wins and one serious race fall. The veteran jockey delights in talking about his association with the brilliant mare Viddora, the highlight of his long association with trainer Lloyd Kennewell. Joe summarises Viddora’s wins in the Moir Stakes and Winterbottom Stakes. He says she was unlucky not to have added another Moir Stakes to her CV. He talks of exciting trips to Dubai and Hong Kong with the daughter of I Am Invincible. Joe finished among the tailenders on Viddora in the 2018 Everest, but won’t forget the experience. He closes by paying tribute to wife Jen and his four children from two marriages- Heidi (21), Callam (19) and the dynamic duo (Jake 5) and Frankie (3). Great to catch up with a long serving and thoroughly dedicated professional jockey.