Legendary jockey Damien Oliver has announced his retirement, and opened up on his emotional 2002 Melbourne Cup win just days after his older brother's death.
Oliver reflected on his famous victory on the back of Media Puzzle after announcing his intention to retire following the completion of this year's spring carnival.
The WA native took out three Melbourne Cups during his illustrious career, but none were more iconic than the 2002 win where he saluted to the skies in honour of his brother Jason, who had tragically died after falling from a horse a week earlier.
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"When you get inside the rails, it's just you and the horse, and you're just concentrating on what you're doing," Oliver recalled of the race.
"That race just worked out perfectly for me.
"I didn't realise at the time what sort of event and the emotions it would stir, but I was so glad I was able to do it and pull it off because it was a great legacy to my brother, who was a huge inspiration to me in becoming a jockey and the success I've been."
Oliver admitted that racing had "taken a little bit away from me" when reflecting on the deaths of his brother and his father Ray, who had also died following a race fall in 1975.
"I achieved so much more than I ever expected to as a young kid leaving Perth," he said.
"It's a sport and a lifestyle that's served me so well over a long period of time and I feel pretty lucky that it's given me everything I've got.
"It's taken a little bit away from me as well - a father and a brother - but it's certainly been really good to me as well."
Oliver has ridden 128 Group 1 winners during his career, and took out both the 1995 and 2013 Melbourne Cups to go along with his 2002 win.
He has also claimed four Caulfield Cups and two Cox Plates and has won over $256 million in prizemoney throughout his career.
"I've never wanted to put myself up on a pedestal and I'll always respect the riders that I'm riding around because it's not the jockey that gets the job done, it's the horse," he said.
"You've got to do it together. They're hard to find, so when you do get one, you treasure it."
Legendary jockey Damien Oliver has announced his retirement, and opened up on his emotional 2002 Melbourne Cup win just days after his older brother's death.
Oliver reflected on his famous victory on the back of Media Puzzle after announcing his intention to retire following the completion of this year's spring carnival.
The WA native took out three Melbourne Cups during his illustrious career, but none were more iconic than the 2002 win where he saluted to the skies in honour of his brother Jason, who had tragically died after falling from a horse a week earlier.
READ MORE: World Cup kiss scandal explodes
READ MORE: Legend's grim Latrell warning amid text scandal
READ MORE: Ange disaster as Spurs knocked out in 18-year first
"When you get inside the rails, it's just you and the horse, and you're just concentrating on what you're doing," Oliver recalled of the race.
"That race just worked out perfectly for me.
"I didn't realise at the time what sort of event and the emotions it would stir, but I was so glad I was able to do it and pull it off because it was a great legacy to my brother, who was a huge inspiration to me in becoming a jockey and the success I've been."
Oliver admitted that racing had "taken a little bit away from me" when reflecting on the deaths of his brother and his father Ray, who had also died following a race fall in 1975.
"I achieved so much more than I ever expected to as a young kid leaving Perth," he said.
"It's a sport and a lifestyle that's served me so well over a long period of time and I feel pretty lucky that it's given me everything I've got.
"It's taken a little bit away from me as well - a father and a brother - but it's certainly been really good to me as well."
Oliver has ridden 128 Group 1 winners during his career, and took out both the 1995 and 2013 Melbourne Cups to go along with his 2002 win.
He has also claimed four Caulfield Cups and two Cox Plates and has won over $256 million in prizemoney throughout his career.
"I've never wanted to put myself up on a pedestal and I'll always respect the riders that I'm riding around because it's not the jockey that gets the job done, it's the horse," he said.
"You've got to do it together. They're hard to find, so when you do get one, you treasure it."
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