It was a delight to catch up with Ray Markey at the Jockeys Reunion at Rosehill in August. I’d seen little of the former jockey since quitting the race broadcasting scene in 1998, but I was well aware of the wonderful job he’d done in building Markey Saddlery into the respected business it is today.
A young Ray Markey unsaddles State Emblem - no credit
If genetics counted for anything Queensland born Ray Markey was always going to be involved in the racing industry. His father Vince had been a successful jockey and was a well established Brisbane trainer by the time he indentured his son. Ray’s brothers Cec and Danny also made their marks in the saddle, as did his maternal grandfather Bert Studders.
Ray was among Brisbane’s best apprentices in the 1960’s and actually won a junior state premiership. It was building contractor turned horse trainer John Poletti who first enticed Ray to join the Sydney riding ranks around 1969. Poletti was already well known as a trainer who had an instinct for knowing when his horses were ready to win. His betting activities had become legend. The Italian born trainer obviously needed a stable jockey of ample talent, but more importantly one who wouldn’t have too much to say. He picked the right jockey in Ray Markey whose quiet demeanour was his lifelong trademark.
Look at the crowd watching the field go out of the straight at the famous Albion Park sand track in the 1960s. Ray is on the leader Hyannis Port.
Through the 1970’s Poletti kept putting his money on, and Markey kept winning on them. Some of the plunges were executed on city tracks, others at country meetings. John Poletti loved nothing more than taking a truck load of horses to places like Grafton, Walcha and Armidale for the Cup meetings. There was one cleverly executed plunge veteran punters still talk about. Poletti backed a first starter called Prince Solo from 330/1 into 33/1 at a Warwick Farm meeting in 1970. Ray later admitted the horse did plenty wrong before snatching victory from Lucky Streak and Paper Gold in the last few strides. Witnesses said Poletti called for the services of a couple of security men to help him get bagfuls of cash to the privacy of his car.
Ray gets Prince Solo home at Warwick Farm 1970. The Poletti stable had backed the horse from 330/1 to 33/1. Older punters still talk about it.
Ray was getting plenty of rides from a wide range of trainers when a race fall in 1976 left him with a badly broken right leg. By this time his late wife Robynne had already established herself in the field of making racing colours. Ray’s business acumen quickly came to the fore and he made the crucial decision not to return to race riding. He joined Robynne in partnership, with a view to becoming Sydney’s first major racing industry supplier.
He learned the fundamentals of the ancient art of saddlery from close friend Chris Day, and set up shop in his home garage. In the early days Ray made a modest living repairing rugs, head collars, bridles, girths and circingles. While he worked away in the garage, Robynne continued to run up colours in her own workroom for a burgeoning clientele. Ray was justifiably proud of the fact that one of his early clients was T.J. Smith on the recommendation of Tulloch Lodge foreman Tom “Spider” Barker.
Today Markey Saddlery operates a shop front and factory in Grimson Crescent, just a stone’s throw from Warwick Farm racecourse. The business is expertly managed by Ray’s son Brendan who oversees a dedicated staff of six. As Brendan says the business engages in the manufacture, wholesaling and retailing of thoroughbred racing equipment for the Australian racing industry with some overseas trading involved. The company’s range of jockey’s saddles has become universally renowned.
With three former ace "saddle sitters" at the recent jockeys reunion - Clark Little, Neil Campton, and Ray Markey swapped a few yarns on the day - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Ray’s health issues began in 2016 when he was the recipient of a kidney transplant following two years of regular dialysis. In October he was admitted to hospital for a suspected urinary infection. During a one month confinement, CT scans revealed the presence of lung cancer which required an immediate course of radiation. Ray had been home from hospital only one week when he suffered a relapse which saw him readmitted on Friday November 24th. He slipped away peacefully in the early hours of the following morning.
Tributes have flowed from all sections of the racing industry since his passing at age 80. Robynne, who predeceased him in 2012 would have been proud of the wonderful legacy he’s left. Ray and Robynne had both lived with the great sadness of the loss of their only daughter Amanda in a 1992 motor accident. Sincere condolences to Brendan, his wife Rebecca and their children Madison and Jack - Ray’s beloved grandchildren.
The quiet Queensland jockey made friends quickly after arriving in Sydney at the invitation of John Poletti in the late 1960s. It’s on record that he made a million more over the next six decades. I was enormously chuffed when Ray Markey went out of his way to say hello in the Marscay Room at Rosehill Gardens last August. He made my day.
(Banner image - Ray won several races on State Emblem in the 1960s. This win at Doomben was a cakewalk.)