Jack Purtell won three Melbourne Cups.
JACK Purtell, who died on Wednesday at age 95, was one of few great jockeys who crossed racing’s great divide.
Instead of becoming a trainer or pub raconteur after a long and distinguished international career, Purtell became a Victoria Racing Club steward.
By all reports Purtell was a capable stipe but his legend was carved in the saddle. Remarkably, as a gun rider through the 1940s, 50s and 60s — in Europe — Purtell was only once suspended by stewards.
Jack Purtell onboard Rising Fast after winning the Mackinnon Stakes.Source:News Corp Australia
“Gentleman Jack’’, identifiable from a long distance by his extremely long nose, was a three-time Melbourne Cup winner, a winner of the Epsom and Irish Oaks and entered Australian racing’s Hall Of Fame in 2004.
Purtell won seven premierships in his hometown of Melbourne, the first in 1946-47 and his Cup wins came aboard Hiraji (1947), Wodalla (1953) and the legendary Rising Fast, in 1953.
He would have ridden 1939 winner Rivette but broke a bone in his foot in a race earlier on Cup Day.
He may have won on the best horse he ever rode, Comic Court (1950) but sacked the horse to ride the more youthful Alister.
Originally published as ‘Gentleman Jack’ a pioneering hoop
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
