Cracknell, Eddie

Eddie's father, Sid, was a veteran jockey who, having ridden Merry Monarch in a race in June, 1942, retired from the saddle and devoted the next two years to teaching young Eddie all the tricks of race riding he had learned during his 24 years as a jockey.In March, 1947,  Edward James Cracknell - born in Sydney on May 25,1926 - who had recently completed his apprenticeship with G. P. Nailon in Sydney and had ridden 42 winners, arrived in Melbourne to ply his trade.

In April 1952, Eddie received a six months retainer of £3,000 from two stables while riding in India. He was on holiday in Sydney at the time and said that the £3,00 was in addition to 'presents'. He had ridden 26 winners in India.

He first appeared on a British race card on Monday June 21, 1954, when he rode Gulf of Happiness for trainer R. Jarvis at Folkestone.

 Eddie, aged 72, died on 4 April, 1999. His wife, Liz, died a few months before him.

Eddie was the father of three daughters one of whom, Alison, was married to trainer Kim Brassey, but was killed in a car crash in Lambourn.

On Monday, May 30, 1977,  Eddie, then aged 51, had a dream ending to his long career when steering 35/1 shot Swinger to victory at Hong Kong's Happy Valley race track.

It was his last ride: he then returned to Australia and began training.

Eddie once had a dream that he would fall during a race. Riding Hidden Charms at Rosehill later, the dream came true and Eddie, badly bruised and with a broken rib, was rushed to hospital.

Eddie won the Calcutta Derby five times. he was also leading jockey in India on three occasions and once rode seven winners in two days as an apprentice in N.S.W.

Big races Eddie won in England included the New Stakes, White Rose Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Cup (twice) and the Victoria Cup.

His younger brother, Max, also became a jockey.