Episode 554: Alan 'Pup' Cowie

It’s a great pleasure to welcome to the podcast former jockey Alan Cowie, currently one of Australia’s best known jockey managers. If you call him Alan you’ll be lucky to get a response- if you call him Pup you’ll get an instant reaction. That’s the nickname given him by a friend in Rockhampton many years ago, a nickname he’s been unable to shake over several decades.  Alan Cowie had 760 winners and a Gold Coast premiership under his belt when he was involved in a three horse fall on the first turn  in a fillies and mares race on Magic Millions day 2002. He was in a bad way by the time he arrived at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital where his impending paraplegia was diagnosed. Pup’s acceptance of his fate and an amazing ongoing attitude have become legendary in Queensland racing. He graciously accepted our invitation to join us on the podcast, and was happy to revisit the highs and lows of his life so far. Alan says he was always going to stay in the racing game after a long and trying rehabilitation. He talks about the demands of modern day jockey management. Alan acknowledges the talents of the three jockeys under his management at the  moment. He looks back on some of the fine riders he’s managed since commencing operations more than twenty years ago. Life in a wheelchair isn’t without its hazards. Alan talks about a freakish recent accident which left him with a broken femur.  He says regular exercise is of paramount importance in keeping ahead of his problems. He continues to play golf thanks to the wonders of technology. Pup takes us back to early days in his hometown of Rockhampton, and talks of three other jockeys in his family background. He talks of his original apprenticeship to a rural Queensland trainer who was reluctant to use up his weight claims too quickly. Alan’s famous nickname of “Pup” was bestowed upon him by an older friend in Rockhampton. He hasn’t forgotten the influence of two legendary jockeys who won multiple Rockhampton premierships between them. Pup remembers two great bush horses who got him up and running in the local riding ranks. He says a well known stipendiary steward instigated his transfer to Sydney trainer Jack Denham. Alan looks back on an exciting twelve months in the famous Denham stable at Rosehill. He has a soft spot for one consistent Denham trained horse he got to ride. Alan looks back on the eighteen months he spent at Rosehill after the termination of his apprenticeship. He enjoyed a great trot with the late Ray Guy. He finally headed home with the opportunity of a regular riding job with Brisbane trainer Colin O’Neill. An amazing twist of fate changed all of that. Alan looks back on his valuable stint with master trainer Jim Griffiths. He hasn’t forgotten the winning run he had with the Toby Edmonds trained  Chappel Dancer. He travelled with the horse to several country Cup carnivals. We set aside ample time for Alan’s review of his exciting association with Kinjite, a horse he rode in 22 races. He says Kinjite was the best horse he rode by a country mile. Alan looks back on several feature wins on Kinjite and the thrill of riding him in some famous Melbourne features. He remembers the disappointment of losing the ride to champion jockey Mick Dittman. Alan talks of sons Jarrod and Dylan. He remembers the torturous eight year wait for legal proceedings to be sorted out following his accident. It’s an entertaining chat with an inspirational human being.