Larry Cassidy (born 1970) is an accomplished thoroughbred racing jockey who is notable for winning over 40 Group 1 races as well as three consecutive Sydney jockey premierships in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Cassidy’s brother Jimmy Cassidy, who is seven years older than Larry, was an established jockey in New Zealand and then Australia who won the Melbourne Cup on Kiwi in 1983.
Another brother, Ricky, was also a jockey.
Cassidy also started his career in New Zealand, leaving his home aged 12 to do an apprenticeship with Brent Beattie at Palmerston North, and later Bruce Marsh at Woodville.
After moving to Australia to ride and establishing himself as a senior jockey, Cassidy embarked on stints in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
Returning to Australia, Cassidy moved to Brisbane and predominantly rides at Queensland racecourses such as Doomben, Eagle Farm and the Sunshine Coast.
Notable wins
Some of Cassidy's major wins were:
1989 Telegraph Handicap on Festal dead heating with Mr Tiz and Lance O'Sullivan at Trentham Racecourse
1989 New Zealand 2000 Guineas on Finnegan Fox
1992 Telegraph Handicap on Morar
1997 Doncaster Handicap on Secret Savings, trained by Gai Waterhouse
1998 Flight Stakes on Sunline
1998 VRC Derby on Arena, trained by John Hawkes
1999 New Zealand Oaks on Let's Sgor
1999 Warwick Stakes on Sunline
1999 Doncaster Handicap on Sunline
2002 Singapore Derby on Smart Bet
2003 Singapore Derby on Lead To Victory
Cassidy's resume also includes a win on the champion, Winx, in the Sunshine Coast Guineas on 16 May 2015.
This was to be the first win of a 33-race unbeaten sequence for Winx, although the horse was ridden by Hugh Bowman and James McDonald (once) from then on.
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