KBRC completes major coup as champion hoop Damien Oliver heads to city for October 4 luncheon

In a glittering career spanning 35 years, hall of fame jockey Damien Oliver endeared himself to many as one of Australia’s greatest sporting stars who never forgot his origins.

Oliver, who retired in December after three Melbourne Cup triumphs, four Caulfield Cups and a record 129 Group One victories, is this week being lauded for those same qualities as the special guest at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club’s annual sportman’s lunch on October 4.

KBRC chairman Harry Donald said Oliver’s upcoming visit was a massive coup for the overall success of the annual Race Round.

“We are rapt that Damien has honoured his commitment to return to where he raced as an apprentice,” Donald said.

“He’s had a wonderful career — certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen in my 60-plus years of going to the races.

“The great thing is that he never forgot he was a West Australian and this whole thing has a wonderful feel to it.

“It will be a packed house and a lot of fun.”

Oliver’s links to Goldfields’ racing as a third-generation jockey are profound and include his grandfather Gerry riding Hannans Handicap winners in 1938 (Sir Grey) and 1940 (Remarc), and the 1965 Kalgoorlie Cup with Colour Correct.

Damien’s late father Ray rode the 1971 Kalgoorlie Cup winner Sir Mardia and 1973 Hannans Handicap winner Pioneer Lad before he was killed after a shocking fall in the 1975 Boulder Cup.

In the Coolgardie Cup, Gerry Oliver was successful in 1939 with Cardo, while Ray Oliver rode the 1963 winner, Aftonite.

Damien Oliver rode his first winner as an apprentice at Bunbury in March 1988 and later that year made his first Hannans Handicap ride before winning it in 1993 aboard Star Shot.

He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008 and won Racing Victoria’s Scobie Breasley Medal 14 times.

In yet another major connection to the Race Round, Breasley, who died in 2006 aged 92, rode 3251 career winners, including the 1946 Kalgoorlie Cup on Pantheist.