West Australian of the Year Awards: World-class jockey Damien Oliver rides his way into history books of WA

World-class jockey Damien Oliver’s on-track statistics prove he is Australian racing’s greatest rider. But even his remarkable tally of winners doesn’t reveal the legendary hoop’s deep affection for horses and genuine bonds with his former mounts. A national record of 129 Group 1 wins, 10 Victorian city premierships, three Melbourne Cups and four Caulfield Cups head a countless list of triumphs by WA-born ‘Ollie’ ahead of his brilliant retirement-day victories last year. However, away from cups’ carnival glamour and celebrations, Oliver, 51, keeps a watch on welfare of the gallant steeds who bore him to fame. Last week, Ollie took a low-key trek to the Hunter Valley in NSW, where he visited his former star sprints’ winner Testa Rossa at a retirement paddock where he warmly hugged the 27-year-old bay. When told his multi-feature events winner Schillaci was succumbing to old age several years ago, Oliver hurried to a Victorian vet clinic and comforted his long-time mate for one last time. “Testa Rossa is in good condition and well-looked after,” Oliver said. “He always gave me maximum efforts in races and deserves his contentment. I always enjoy visiting the old-time mounts. “There were touching and sentimental moments with Schillaci as he neared the end. He helped me get established in Melbourne.” Oliver, who was raised at Byford ahead of moving to Victoria 35 years ago, is among Western Australian of the Year sports finalists. Global attention focused on Oliver when he overcame extreme tragedy to win the 2002 Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle, only days after his brother Jason died of injuries sustained in a Perth racetrack fall. Damien’s heavenly post-race salute to Jason was one of the most emotional moments in Australian sporting history. Damien, who also has two Cox Plate wins and a Golden Slipper victory to his credit, has always ridden in a shadow of family-racing tragedy. His father Ray died after a fall in Kalgoorlie’s 1975 Boulder Cup. Idolised by home-State fans, Damien drove the Perth racing carnival crowd into a frenzy of wild excitement at Ascot last December when winning the $1.5 million Damien Oliver Gold Rush Stakes in his final Australian race ride before retirement. He weaved Munhamek between rivals from an “impossible” spot on the home turn to cap a fairytale farewell highlighted by wins at each of his final three WA mounts. Officials had earlier honoured the jockey who became a Perth racing treasure by naming Ascot’s historic 1800m-post grandstand as the Damien Oliver Stand. Outside racing, Oliver is a West Coast Eagles devotee and was named the club’s No.1 Melbourne ticket-holder. “Nomination for the Western Australian of the Year award is a truly great honour,” Oliver said on Wednesday. “I’ve been based in Melbourne since 1989, but WA is still home to me. “I’m frequently in Perth to visit my mother Pat, and catch up with lifelong friends. I enjoy golfing and surfing there. “When deciding last year to retire after the spring racing, I could have officially hung up my silks at the Flemington carnival. “But I wanted to conclude my career where it all began, back in WA. My farewell race meeting was amazing, with family and friends all there to celebrate with me. “I couldn’t believe it when officials named Ascot’s old grandstand and the Gold Rush feature event in my honour. So many outstanding racing people have preceded me in Perth racing.” Oliver rode about 60 WA winners before transferring to Victoria, where he swiftly rose to elite level and achieved the rare feat of topping a Melbourne jockeys’ premiership while still an apprentice. He has been inducted to Australian and WA Racing Hall of Fames. Oliver, who has a new role in the racing industry public relations, joins sailing champion Matthew Wearn and star athlete Nina Kennedy as sports finalists for the Western Australian of the Year award. There are 21 finalists across seven categories who are contenders to be awarded Western Australian of the Year for 2024. The winner of each category and the overall winner will be announced at a gala ball on Thursday, May 30, at Crown Perth.