Ray Selkrig, Bill Camer and Cliff Clare were close in age and carved out distinguished careers for themselves in an era when the Sydney riding ranks were as strong as they’ve ever been. Fierce rivals on the racetrack and firm friends off it, all three distinguished horsemen have ridden off into the sunset in the past nine months - Ray Selkrig at 93 in late June of last year, Bill Camer (92) in January while Cliff Clare was just four months short of his 94th birthday when he passed away on Tuesday of last week.
The last six weeks of Cliff’s long life were the toughest he’d ever known. It began early in the new year when a heavy fall saw him admitted to the Prince Of Wales Hospital where he was cleared of any serious injury. Routine tests revealed the presence of other ongoing issues, but he was allowed home under regular care.
Cliff was 42 when this one was taken outside the Randwick jockey's room in 1973. He rode for another 20 years - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The veteran was managing adequately when daughter Robyn conveyed the shock news that his only son Stephen had lost his life in a freakish home accident. Just a few days later Cliff was readmitted to hospital following a second tumble. Robyn was permitted to take her father to Stephen’s funeral service, before returning him to Prince of Wales where he would spend the final few weeks of his life. Predictably Cliff went downhill quickly following his unthinkable ordeal. The remarkable nonagenarian was dealing with a serious chest infection when he slipped away in the early hours of the morning of March 19th.
Cliff was born in 1930 at Denman in the NSW Hunter Valley, but spent much of his early life in nearby Muswellbrook. He was the youngest of ten children, and like so many country kids of the era formed an attachment to horses. He could ride bareback with balance comparable to those mates who had the luxury of a saddle - a skill that would cause him problems when an apprenticeship came along.
His small stature and love of horses triggered his desire to become an apprentice jockey. With the help of family he sprang into action after hearing a radio announcement by form guru Clif Cary highlighting an opportunity with Roseberry trainer George McCahon. “I’ll never forget my tryout at the McCahon stables in the mid 1940’s,” said Clare in a 2002 Sky interview. “He told me to saddle up the stable pony and trot him up and down a laneway next to the stables. Not only did I struggle to get the saddle on, but I was completely lost when I tried to rise to the trot. I could have ridden that pony all day bareback, but the saddle was foreign to me. Somehow I got the job and my mother took me to the AJC Office in Bligh St, where my paperwork was put in order for my apprenticeship to Mr. McCahon.”
George McCahon (centre) with his promising apprentice Cliff Clare in the late 1940s.
Clif Cary died at age 81 in 1986, almost four decades after broadcasting the message destined to change the life of a horse mad Muswellbrook teenager. A large crowd attended Clif Cary’s funeral at Sydney’s Macquarie Park. One of the congregation was Cliff Clare who fondly remembered the radio legend’s contribution to the evolvement of his riding career. Cary maintained a keen interest in Clare’s achievements over the years and was always first to compliment him on a notable winning ride.
Clare never forgot his very first race ride on a horse called Delayed Action at Gosford, a course which would later provide him with many winners. “I absolutely slaughtered him,” was Cliff’s lifetime recollection of the experience. “I probably wasn’t much better a few weeks later when Fort Game gave me my first win at Kembla Grange but I got away with it.”
Another venue to play an important part in Cliff’s early years was the spacious Broadmeadow track at Newcastle. His success rate there almost certainly influenced Tommy Smith’s decision to put him on Foxmara in the 1959 Newcastle Cup. “I have no idea why he settled on me to ride the horse but it was a big kick along at the time,” said Cliff. “I had very few rides for him in later years but that win on Foxmara brought me under the notice of many other trainers.”
Cliff was 29 when he won the 1959 Newcastle Cup on the Tommy Smith trained Foxmara.
It was a big thrill to win a feature race for Sydney's leading trainer TJ Smith.
Shortly after the Newcastle Cup win Cliff was invited to take part in a key racing scene for a widely publicised movie called The Sundowners. The carefully staged horse race was filmed on the rather crude Ti Tree dirt track near Cooma. “Stars like Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr were in the movie,” recalled Cliff. “They needed a few professional jockeys for the scene and I was lucky enough to be selected along with Rodney Turner and Ted Doon. Rodney Turner rode the winner. People who’ve seen the movie will remember a lovely grey horse winning the race. That horse was the long retired Silver Phantom who’d won the Epsom about six years earlier. It was a terrific experience.”
In the spring of 1965 Cliff won his second Newcastle Cup on the beautifully named Duo (Double Bore-In Harmony). He only got to ride the laid back stayer on the few occasions when regular jockey George Podmore was unavailable. He did however ride many winners for Duo’s trainer, the Hawkesbury based Ron Dickerson.
Back to scale on Duo after the Newcastle Cup. Just over a year later Duo finished 3rd in Galilee's Melbourne Cup - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Cliff Clare’s career in the tough Sydney riding ranks took a significant turn for the better when the Roseberry training track was closed in the mid 1960’s. Cliff was advised by friends to relocate to Rosehill where few experienced jockeys were riding regular trackwork. It turned out to be a masterstroke. Trainers like Colin Papworth, Tom Kennedy, Herb Sampson and Ted Stanton quickly tapped into his experience and well documented ability with uneducated or troublesome horses.
It was Colin Papworth who paired Clare up with a brilliant two year old called Prince Max, one of four top chances in a very strong 1966 Golden Slipper. He looked like running second at the 100m where Academy Star was a clear leader. Storm Queen jumped out of the ground to grab Academy Star in the last few strides, while Prince Max was nosed out of third money by the filly Very Merry. Just over two weeks later Prince Max turned the tables on Academy Star in the Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick, to give Cliff Clare his first win at the equivalent of Gr 1 status.
Cliff had a bit up the sleeve as he coaxed Prince Max to victory over Academy Star in the 1966 AJC Sires Produce Stakes.
Fast forward one year and Ted Stanton was firmly established as principal trainer for Jack and Bob Ingham whose chicken empire had soared to dizzy heights. Ted was training an attractive Todman filly for his valued clients by the name of Sweet Embrace, who hadn’t set the world on fire in three runs leading up to the 1967 Golden Slipper. She’d been out of a place at her first start with Gordon Spinks on board, after which she ran near last at Randwick with George Moore in the saddle. On both occasions she’d been ridden for speed. By this time Cliff Clare was riding regular work for Stanton, and quickly developed an affinity with the chestnut filly. Cliff and Ted decided to ride Sweet Embrace quietly in a lead up race at Warwick Farm. She zoomed home from well back to finish right on the heels of the placegetters. Should she gain a start in the Slipper, this was the way she’d be ridden.
Very few form students conceded the filly a chance in the race famously won by her sire Todman a decade earlier. She was all but friendless throughout the betting and lined up at 40/1. Cliff said later she could have led, but he allowed her to drift back to midfield on the fence. “I couldn’t believe how well she was going on the hometurn,” he recalled. “I was held up for a few strides but got into the clear when the horse on my outside dropped off a bit. She just went straight past them and absolutely bolted in. She won like a 6/4 chance.”
Cliff's golden racing moment! An easy win over Begonia Belle and Eugene in the 1967 Golden Slipper - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Cliff enjoyed a long and happy association with Ted Stanton. He had a firm favourite among the dozens of winners he rode for the Rosehill trainer. “I loved King’s Delight”, said the jockey. “He tried his best every time and was a beautiful horse to ride. If there was trouble up ahead he’d back off a little to avoid heels. He was the kind of horse every jockey wants to ride. Another smart Ingham horse I got to ride was Royal Brittania. He was a terrible track worker but felt like a good horse to me from early days. I was lucky enough to win a Silver Slipper on him.”
Cliff and Ted enjoy the moment after Sweet Embrace's Slipper win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
One of Cliff’s last social engagements was to attend Ted Stanton’s 90th birthday party last September. The long retired trainer looks back on a sixty year friendship with his former stable jockey. “He was an outstanding race rider, a very good judge and a wonderful mate,” said Ted. “I use an old racing expression when I describe him as a solid bloke, meaning his loyalty was always there. I was very sad to hear of his passing.”
Craig Rixon spent part of his apprenticeship with Ted Stanton at a time when Cliff Clare was still riding for the stable. Craig has nothing but praise for Cliff and the Stanton family. “It was Cliffy who suggested I make contact with Ted when I was looking to relocate from Hawkesbury to the city,” said the former jockey. “The Stantons treated me like one of the family to the extent that I stayed on after the completion of my apprenticeship. I rode miles of work with Cliff who took an interest in my progress and was a brilliant tutor. To this day I give pointers to young riders that were passed on to me by Cliffy Clare years ago.”
Cliff was a guest at Ted Stanton's 90th birthday celebration. Gary Small (left) Ted (right) with Craig Rixon standing.
Another heartfelt tribute comes from Anne Munsie, wife of the late Norm Munsie who rode alongside Cliff for many years. Anne has remained in touch with the Clare family and was actually at Cliff’s bedside a few hours before his passing on March 19th. “He was very good to Norm in the old days, consistently putting rides his way,” said Anne. “If Cliff had a couple of offers in a particular race he’d always recommend Norm to ride the second one. The two were great mates on and off the track. I’ll miss him very much.”
The astute trainer Tom Kennedy admired the dedication and sound judgement of Cliff Clare from the moment the jockey relocated to Rosehill. The jockey always regarded King Roto, Royal Emblem and Castanea as the best horses he handled for the man who would later become Chairman of the Sydney Turf Club. Cliff was seen at his best in winning the 1965 Villiers on Castanea with the steadier of 9 stone (57 kgs).
The jockey was always appreciative of the fact that he’d had only four or five race falls over an astonishing forty five years of race riding. He was still riding in races at 62 years of age and would have continued to compete had the phone not stopped ringing. His wonderful wife Shirley would have preferred him to retire years before, but always respected his decision to continue. Cliff, Stephen and Robyn were dealt a cruel blow in 2008, when Shirley died suddenly at home.
Cliff was still playing golf well into his 80s.
Golf had always been Cliff’s favourite relaxation and not surprisingly he stepped up his involvement post racing. He was on a handicap of eighteen well into his eighties, and regarded his regular golf as the perfect substitute for the riding career he was missing so badly. “I don’t know what I would have done without the golf,” said Cliff in the 2002 Sky interview. “I really didn’t want to stop but I was getting only an odd ride here and there on 100/1 pops. I was still very fit and healthy and my nerve was fine, but nobody wanted a sixty two year old jockey.”
One of my favourite Cliff Clare memories revolves around a horse called Crown Joker who was trained by Darryl Rolfe in the late 80’s and early 1990’s for a small Laurel Oak ownership syndicate. The Crown Jester gelding was a very consistent performer who posted fifteen wins and twenty three placings in an 87 start career. May I elaborate on his win in a 1200m restricted race at Rosehill on July 14th 1990. Cliff gave him a dream run behind the leaders to the turn before being held up fleetingly inside the 200m. Showing the dash and daring of a much younger rider, the veteran pushed Crown Joker through a narrow gap close to home and the race was over in a twinkling. I just happened to know he was only eighteen days off his 60th birthday, and thought his ride warranted special mention on the public address system.
By the time he got back to the enclosure gate I’d informed the crowd of his impending birthday, and the merit of his dashing ride. He looked quite puzzled as he returned to scale on a “roughie” to a near Melbourne Cup reception. It didn’t end there. As soon as he’d weighed in, photographers had him out on the track doing the “Toyota jump”. To Cliff’s astonishment the photos were all over the Sunday papers. As his rides started to dry up over the next couple of years, he lightheartedly blamed me for telling the world how old he was.
Crown Joker dives through a narrow opening to beat Cajun (Jim Cassidy) and Red Ed (Terry Jones) at Rosehill 14/07/1990 - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
He hadn’t missed a jockey’s reunion since the concept was created by Steve Hart and Tony Crisafi in 2019. I had the pleasure of conducting a quick interview with him at the 2022 gathering. His recall and clarity were the talk of the function. He was chuffed to be among the inductees into the inaugural Illawarra Hall Of Fame at Kembla Grange last October. He couldn’t wait to get there for the official presentation.
The smile says it all! Cliff unsaddles Crown Joker - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Former champion jockey Kevin Langby was returning from Sunday’s “Legends Day” at Orange when I got him on his car phone. He has fond memories of his association with Cliff Clare. “When I first became apprenticed to Fred Hood at the old Roseberry track Cliff was doing a lot of riding for the stable,” recalled Langby. “We moved to Rosehill when Roseberry closed and Cliff did the same. I rode in many races against him over the next twenty five years. He was a cool, calm jockey who could keep it all together if one of his horses had been well supported. He could hold his own with the best of them. Cliff was still on the Racing NSW Appeals Panel when I started some years ago. He’d been involved for a long time and was very respected in the role.”
The passing of Ray Selkrig, Bill Camer and Cliff Clare leaves Ron Hutchinson (96) as the oldest surviving jockey born in the depression era. Melbourne based “Hutchy” is still a regular at metropolitan meetings and enjoys nothing more than swapping a yarn or two about the racing world he knew at home and overseas. Cliff’s fellow Golden Slipper winning jockey Laurie Billett lives in Newcastle with wife Rae. He’s now in his eighty ninth year and still taking a keen interest in the races.
I have vivid memories of the days when I’d be checking colours as the riders filed out of the jockey’s room at one of the provincial meetings. It was a rare day when Cliff Clare didn’t stop for a brief chat. Always humble, instinctively polite and interested in the welfare of others Cliff Clare was a true gentleman and an ornament to his profession. I’m glad he was around in my time
RIP Cliffy!
Cliff Clare’s funeral service is scheduled for 11am on Tuesday April 2nd at the Lakes Golf Club. A wake will be held at the same venue.
1965 Newcastle Cup presentation. Cliff receives his trophy from newly inducted NSW Premier Robert Askin - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Days gone by! Cliff and Shirley with son Stephen and daughter Robyn.
(Banner image - Cliff wins the 1965 Newcastle Cup on Duo - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)