Episode 515: Jim Byrne

We’ve had several emails lately enquiring about Jim Byrne’s future plans. He was missing in action for the latter half of 2024 and has been relatively quiet since returning to the saddle. We haven’t had Jim on the podcast for close to five years. The time is right to catch up with one of Queensland’s best ever jockeys. Jim begins by talking about Michael Cahill’s recent farewell meeting on the Gold Coast, but makes it clear he’s not yet ready to follow suit. He talks of his departure from the riding ranks in late 2023, a break he was badly needing. Jim says he was relatively injury free for the first half of his long riding career. He says most of his troubles began in 2019 when he was dislodged from a young horse after a track gallop.  He says he was unaware of the extent of the damage. It was two weeks later when he virtually lost the use of his right arm during a two year old race at Eagle Farm. Jim admits to being a very bad patient during long injury layoffs. The champion jockey recalls the wonderful trot he was enjoying in late 2019 when involved in a freakish fall after passing the post at Doomben. More surgery followed. He was barely back in the saddle when he came down with a golden staph infection in one elbow. He also needed minor surgery when one of the screws holding a knee plate suddenly slipped out of alignment. Jim finally got on a trouble free run and the winners were flowing again. He was lucky enough to form an association with the brilliant Rothfire. His five wins on the horse included the Gr 1 J.J Atkins. Around the same time Byrne teamed up with the brilliant Apache Chase. One of his six wins on the horse came in the Gr 1 Kingsford Smith Cup. The jockey was especially thrilled to win the feature race for longtime supporter Desleigh Forster. The veteran jockey talks of his apprenticeship to the highly respected Pat Duff whose recent passing saddened the Queensland racing industry. Jim hasn’t forgotten the name of his first winner at Beaudesert but the trainer’s name has slipped his memory. He talks of his first ever metropolitan win on the Noel Doyle trained White Hope. Jim has no doubt a win in the Gr 3 Lightning Hcp at Eagle Farm was the one to bring him under notice as an emerging talent. He delights in reflecting on his 13 rides on the Newcastle trained Adam, the first of them resulting in a narrow defeat in the Doomben $10,000. He looks back on his homestretch duel with Michael Pelling on Laurie’s Lottery. He even threw in a protest. The jockey pays tribute to Adam’s trainer Ray Brock. Jim then looks back on his first Gr 1 win- a thrilling Stradbroke victory on Adam. He remembers a Sydney Gr 2 win on the genuine stallion and several placings in elite company. Jim looks back on a brief association with brilliant grey filly Gold Edition. The daughter of Lion Hunter gave the jockey two wins at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week in 2006.  He looks back on a surprise “pick up” ride in 2008 which gave him an unexpected win in the time honoured Queensland Derby. Jim was often a “go-to” jockey for interstate trainers taking horses to the Brisbane winter carnival. He remembers with affection a brief but exciting partnership with Redzel which produced an all the way win in the Doomben $10,000. He talks of a Ramornie Hcp win at Grafton for the Snowden stable.  Jim has fond memories of a Gr 2 Hill Stakes win on Desert War for the Waterhouse stable. The ace rider reflects on his association with the dynamic sprinter General Nediym. He says the horse was probably past his best, but still very effective at the top level. Jim has been quietly planning his life after racing for several years. He and wife Rhamie are developing a very workable saddlery shop in the basement of their Brisbane home. Rhamie is emerging as a Group 1 seamstress. The veteran jockey pays a much deserved tribute to his wife of 30 years.  Jim brings us up to date with the  current progress of his four kids, Corey, Georgia, Madison and Lachlan. Jim Byrne has a legion of fans in the Sunshine State. They’ll be delighted to hear from the four time Brisbane premiership winner.