Roy Higgins Quality: A golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup

Born in Koondrook, Victoria on 5 June 1938, Roy Higgins was raised in Deniliquin, NSW, where he took an apprenticeship in 1953 to local horse trainer Jim Watters.

After establishing himself in the country he headed to Melbourne where he began a legendary career.

Riding 2,312 winners, including 108 Group 1 winners.

• Winning the Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership 11 times, his first in the 1964/65 season.
• Winning the Melbourne Cup twice on Light Fingers (1965) and Red Handed (1967), two Cox Plates on Sir Dane (1974) and Gunsynd (1972), a Caulfield Cup on Big Philou (1969) and two Golden Slippers on Storm Queen (1966) and Tontonan (1973), as well as the Victoria Derby four times and the VRC Oaks five times.
• Becoming an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 and being made patron in 2006.
• Commentating on TV and radio following his retirement in 1984.
• Helping to establish Northern Lodge, Northern Melbourne institute of TAFE’s educational thoroughbred breeding property, where he was a respected mentor and advisor. He also formed the Roy Higgins and Wylie Dalziel Racing syndication company.
• Valued contributor and ambassador for the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.