Here is one of the kindest men I ever met in racing. This photo of Stan Cassidy was snapped at Canterbury only a couple of years before a freakish trackwork accident claimed his life at age 46.
Stan took the trouble to arrange my first interview with Clif Cary, Sporting Editor of 2GB - an interview that led me to a career I’ve loved.
He was a very talented old school jockey, who preferred to be asked to ride a horse rather than chase the mount. He won several Group 1’s, and was a widely recognized master on two year olds. He won many of the Spring juvenile races at Randwick, and a couple of Silver Slippers.
He desperately wanted to win a Golden Slipper, but had to settle for two seconds on Beau Rouge (to Fairy Walk in 1971), and on Snuff (to Tontonan in 1973).
“Casso” loved nothing more than winning a race for a battling trainer, and rarely missed a morning at the track.
He was a wonderful family man, a humble and caring friend, and a far better jockey than given credit for.
Stan Cassidy died in 1974, but is not forgotten.