'Aborigines and the Sport of Kings celebrates the significant and exciting Aboriginal involvement in Australian racing history. A remarkable history considering That the Australian Aboriginal peoples first contact with the European animals caused them bewilderment and terror Because Massacres violent and unprovoked vicious attacks were Conducted from horseback. However, within a short period They adapted and shed Their fears. Over time They caught the horses and taught themeselves to ride, using sheets of bark as makeshift saddles. Settler accounts record Aboriginal peoples uncanny affinity with horses; Their excellence in caring for them and in riding. So, moving from the skilled workers who were the backbone of the Australian pastoral industries to racing horses was an obvious step. Amongst the many Aboriginal jockeys highlighted in the book are Merv Maynard, Norm Rose, Frank Reys, Richard Lawrence 'Darby' McCarthy and Leigh-Anne Goodwin, Australia's first female Aboriginal jockey to ride a winner at a metropolitan track. Coming from a proud Aboriginal family and a racing background, John Maynard knows firsthand that there have always been more Aboriginal jockeys than ice USUALLY admitted.' (Source: Bokus website)
Aboriginal Stars of the Turf : Jockeys of Australian Racing History
Canberra
:
Aboriginal Studies Press
,
2002
Z1394561
2002
selected work
biography
'John Maynard comes from both Aboriginal and racing backgrounds. He knows first hand that the premise that there had been very few Aboriginal riders is far from the truth. His book celebrates the significant and exciting Aboriginal involvement in Australian racing history.
Amongst the many Aboriginal jockeys highlighted in the book are Merv Maynard, Norm Rose, Frank Reys, Richard Lawrence 'Darby' McCarthy and Leigh-Anne Goodwin, Australia's first female Aboriginal jockey to ride a winner at a metropolitan track.' Source: Publisher's blurb (Sighted 28/07/2009).
'Now in its third edition, this book documents the history of Aboriginal participation in the Australian horse-racing industry. Detailing the achievements of Aboriginal jockeys from the nineteenth century to the present day, the book highlights a part of our national sporting past that remains largely forgotten in the collective memory of the Australian public. Ignored in other published histories of the sport, the significant contributions made by Aboriginal people to the Australian racing industry are documented in this book and make it an important addition to contemporary understandings of Australian sport and the experiences of the Aboriginal participants.' (Introduction)
'Now in its third edition, this book documents the history of Aboriginal participation in the Australian horse-racing industry. Detailing the achievements of Aboriginal jockeys from the nineteenth century to the present day, the book highlights a part of our national sporting past that remains largely forgotten in the collective memory of the Australian public. Ignored in other published histories of the sport, the significant contributions made by Aboriginal people to the Australian racing industry are documented in this book and make it an important addition to contemporary understandings of Australian sport and the experiences of the Aboriginal participants.' (Introduction)
