Brian York, Champion Jockey Riding For Many Successful Trainers Including Gai Waterhouse

Brian York rode for many successful trainers including Brian McLachlan, Gai Waterhouse and Jack Denham.

Born in Scotland in 1963, jockey Brian York initially rode in New Zealand before coming to Brisbane.

Once there, he rode for trainer Bruce McLachlan for seven years. He then moved on to Sydney and began to establish his reputation as a world class rider.

Brian York had a seemingly uncanny ability to judge pace whilst riding in the lead, a feat that is not as easy as it might seem. Whilst still based in Brisbane, York frequented the big southern carnivals.

Brian York Wins Caulfield Cup

He won the Caulfield Cup in 1988 aboard Imposera in what many racing aficionados termed as a brilliant front running ride. He won three Brisbane premierships in the late 1990s, and then took the Sydney jockeys premiership in 2000-01.

If asked, Brian York would say that never having won a Melbourne Cup or a Silver Slipper Stakes would be his greatest disappointments as a jockey, but he certainly won essentially everything else on the schedule at one time or another.

The closest he ever came to a Cup was a third place on Magnolia Hall.

In addition to his Caulfield Cup win, Brian York can take credit for victories in the AJC Derby and Oaks, the VRC Newmarket, Caulfield Guineas, VRC Lightning and more prestigious events than can comfortably be listed in the amount of space available here.

He won a BMW Classic whilst riding the most famous horse of his career, Might and Power. He often had to share Might and Power with Jim Cassidy.

Might And Power

Might And Power did notch victories in the Cup and the Caulfield on occasions when that horse's owner and trainer had pulled Brian York in favor of Cassidy.

They did put him back on for wins such as the Doomben and the Hollindale Cup.

Brian York rode for many successful trainers in addition to McLachlan, including Gai Waterhouse and Jack Denham.

York experienced a knee injury in Sydney in 2002 when he fell from Panorama. He was unsuccessful in rehabilitating the injury; after almost two years, he decided that it was in his best interests and the interests of the safety of the horses and his fellow competitors to retire in 2004.

Brian York Retires From Saddle

After 25 years in the saddle, Brian York went on to have a career as a photographer. He is currently involved in competition of another sort: dog showing.

Brian York would undoubtedly won more if he had not been injured and forced to retire somewhat prematurely. 

If there is justice in the racing world, he would have to be considered a legitimate contender for eventual inclusion in the Racing Hall of Fame.