Embedded Files
Neville Francis Sellwood was born on December 2, 1922, at Hamilton, Brisbane.He was the fifth child of Queensland-born parents Charles & Amy.
She wasn't keen on her son becoming a jockey. Apart from the risk of physical injury - fears which tragically were to prove well-founded - she also remained unconvinced that there was sufficient money to be made.
She wanted him instead to become a solicitor.
Nevertheless, Neville pressed ahead with his chosen career and, in 1938, was apprenticed to Jim Shean, who trained in Brisbane.
He had his first ride for the stable at Bundamba racecourse, Ipswich.
On March 11, 1939, Neville rode his first winner: Ourimbah at Doomben, Brisbane.
On 19 January, 1942, Neville was called up for full-time duty with postal units in Brisbane & Townsville. He got on the right side of a sympathetic commanding officer who allowed him to ride trackwork and take mounts at local meetings.
He managed to win the jockeys' championship in three successive years at Townsville. His winning percentage (around 48% - he won 140 races from 290 rides) was staggering and led to the bookmakers laying 'evens' for each of his mounts, irrespective of their chance.
Neville married Alwyn Dinnar on 21 October, 1944, at St James's Anglican Church, Townsville.
He was discharged from the army on 2 May, 1946.
By then he was enjoying a growing reputation as a talented jockey, and was snapped up by Sydney trainer Maurice McCarten. Within two years, Neville had won the jockeys' Premiership (a feat he would repeat five times).
His big race wins during this time included the 1949 Victoria Racing Club Derby on Delta, the horse on which he also won the 1951 Melbourne Cup. For this last victory, he was rewarded with a Rolls Royce by the grateful owner.
On the backs of champion horses - like Tulloch and Todman, which he rode to twelve & ten victories respectivley - Neville became a rich man.
He wore expensive suits and earned the nickname 'Nifty'. No spendthrift, he invested his money wisely, buying shares and a sheep farm in Cudal, New South Wales.
He began to travel and enjoyed success in America before first coming to England in 1951 to ride for Atty Persse.
On his next visit to England, he immediately made a big impression when winning Kempton's 2,000 Guineas Trial on Titian for Lord Sefton. He also won the Royal Hunt Cup in the same season with the unpredictable Val d'Assa.
In 1962, he enjoyed one of his greatest triumphs when winning the Epsom Derby on the American-owned Larkspur.
He had somewhat unexpectedly been engaged to ride the horse by trainer Vincent O'Brien. Neville had flown to Ireland to ride the colt in its final gallop, but found Larkspur to be lame. He did not sit on him until the day of the race.
On November 7 that same year, he took the ride on Lucky Seven on a wet track at Maison Lafitte racecourse, Paris.
It was here that his mother's worst fears were realized.
The horse slipped and fell, crushing the jockey beneath him.
Neville died on the way to hospital.
Accompanied by his wife and their three children, the body was flown back to Australia and, after a Catholic ceremony, was buried at Cudal cemetery.
Neville Sellwood was a quiet, friendly person who was a good loser and a modest winner, likeable qualities attributes which are not always evident in front-ranking jockeys.
By riding a winner at Saint-Cloud in the afternoon and another at Kempton Park that evening, Neville became the first jockey to win races in two countries on the same day.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse