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1921 - 2017
1921 - 2017
Australian jockey John Michael ‘Jack’ Purtell was born in 1921 rode three Melbourne Cup winners before coming to ride in Europe, where he won both the English and Irish Oaks.
Australian jockey John Michael ‘Jack’ Purtell was born in 1921 rode three Melbourne Cup winners before coming to ride in Europe, where he won both the English and Irish Oaks.
Known as ‘Gentleman Jack’, he began his riding career in 1936 at the age of 15. He was an apprentice jockey to Ted Temby at his Mordialloc, Victoria stables and rode his first winner on Bonus at Mentone, Victoria in April 1937.
Known as ‘Gentleman Jack’, he began his riding career in 1936 at the age of 15. He was an apprentice jockey to Ted Temby at his Mordialloc, Victoria stables and rode his first winner on Bonus at Mentone, Victoria in April 1937.
He achieved his first major success when aged 20 on Velocity in the 1941 Caulfield Cup. He went on to claim seven Melbourne Jockey Premierships – 1946/47, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1954/55, 1960/61 and 1961/62.
He achieved his first major success when aged 20 on Velocity in the 1941 Caulfield Cup. He went on to claim seven Melbourne Jockey Premierships – 1946/47, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1954/55, 1960/61 and 1961/62.
He won the Melbourne Cup three times on Hiraji (1947), Wodalla (1953) and Rising Fast (1954). He also won the Cox Plate four times during the 1950s on Alister (1950), Bronton (1951), Rising Fast (1954) and Ray Ribbon (1956).
He won the Melbourne Cup three times on Hiraji (1947), Wodalla (1953) and Rising Fast (1954). He also won the Cox Plate four times during the 1950s on Alister (1950), Bronton (1951), Rising Fast (1954) and Ray Ribbon (1956).
Jack won 19 races on Comic Court and figured in one of the most famous Australian racing photographs of all time when riding Fighting Force to a triple dead-heat with Pandie Sun and Ark Royal in the 1956 Hotham Handicap at Flemington.
Jack won 19 races on Comic Court and figured in one of the most famous Australian racing photographs of all time when riding Fighting Force to a triple dead-heat with Pandie Sun and Ark Royal in the 1956 Hotham Handicap at Flemington.
He came to ride in Britain in 1957 and rode 33 winners that year. In 1958 he rode 23 winners before returning to Australia in October.
He came to ride in Britain in 1957 and rode 33 winners that year. In 1958 he rode 23 winners before returning to Australia in October.
He then returned to Europe in 1964 and rode in Ireland for Vincent O’Brien, for whom he won that year’s Irish Oaks on Ancasta and Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary Stakes on Brassia. The following year he won the Oaks at Epsom on Vincent O’Brien’s Long Look. He returned to Australia at the end of that 1965 season.
He then returned to Europe in 1964 and rode in Ireland for Vincent O’Brien, for whom he won that year’s Irish Oaks on Ancasta and Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary Stakes on Brassia. The following year he won the Oaks at Epsom on Vincent O’Brien’s Long Look. He returned to Australia at the end of that 1965 season.
A well-liked and popular jockey, Jack retired from the saddle in 1966, aged 45, having ridden over 1,700 winners worldwide. After retiring he served as a stipendiary steward at the Victoria Racing Club for 15 years until 1981, when he went to live in Queensland. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. A sculpture of him by John Frith is held by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
A well-liked and popular jockey, Jack retired from the saddle in 1966, aged 45, having ridden over 1,700 winners worldwide. After retiring he served as a stipendiary steward at the Victoria Racing Club for 15 years until 1981, when he went to live in Queensland. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. A sculpture of him by John Frith is held by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
Jack died on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland in March 2017, aged 95. He and his wife Norma had two children, Garry and Mark.
Jack died on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland in March 2017, aged 95. He and his wife Norma had two children, Garry and Mark.
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