Damien Oliver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Damien Oliver |
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Damien Oliver after winning the 2014 Darley Australian Cup
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| Nickname | Ollie |
| Occupation | Professional jockey |
| Born | 22 June 1972 Perth, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Trish |
| Children | 3 |
| Honours | |
| Australian Racing Hall of Fame | |
| Significant horses | |
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Damien Oliver (born 22 June 1972) is a famous Australian thoroughbred racing jockey who has now retired. He comes from a family deeply involved in horse racing. His father, Ray Oliver, was also a successful jockey. In 2008, Damien Oliver was honored by being added to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. He announced his retirement in August 2023, with his last races taking place at the end of that year.
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Early Life and Family Background
Damien Oliver was born on June 22, 1972, in Perth, Western Australia. His father, Ray Oliver, was a jockey who sadly died in a racing accident when Damien was only three years old. This happened in Kalgoorlie when his father fell from his horse. As a child, Damien attended Byford Primary School in Byford.
Damien Oliver's Racing Career
Damien Oliver began his professional riding career in 1988. He learned a lot during his training with his stepfather, Lindsey Rudland, and famous trainer Lee Freedman. His very first win as a trainee jockey was in March 1988 on a horse named Mr. Gudbud. This victory happened in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Major Races and Comebacks
Throughout his career, Oliver faced several injuries. In March 2005, he broke his spine after a fall at Moonee Valley. Despite this serious injury, he worked hard to return to riding. After his recovery, he rode the Japanese horse Pop Rock in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. They finished second in that big race. In the 2007 Melbourne Cup, he again placed second, this time on the English horse Purple Moon.
Oliver has won the prestigious Melbourne Cup three times. His victories were on Doriemus in 1995, Media Puzzle in 2002, and Fiorente in 2013. He also won the Caulfield Cup four times and the Cox Plate twice. He was the regular rider for champion horses like Schillaci and Alinghi. In 2007, he achieved a special milestone called the "grand slam" of Australian racing. He did this by winning the Golden Slipper race on a horse named Forensics.
From 1989 until his final ride in 2023, Oliver participated in almost every Melbourne Cup. He only missed three races during this long period. One miss was in 2005 due to his injury. Another was in 2017 because of a suspension. In 2022, his horse was withdrawn due to an injury.
A Special Melbourne Cup Win
In 2011, a movie called The Cup was released. It told the story of Damien Oliver's life and how he dealt with the death of his brother, Jason Oliver. Just two weeks after his brother's passing, Damien bravely rode and won the 2002 Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle. This was a very emotional and memorable victory.
In 2013, Oliver won his third Melbourne Cup while riding Fiorente. This win was also his 100th victory in a Group 1 race, which is the highest level of horse racing. This particular victory was also a first for trainer Gai Waterhouse, who had never won the Melbourne Cup before.
Retirement from Racing
Before the 2023 Melbourne Spring Carnival, Damien Oliver announced that he would retire from racing after the carnival finished. His very last race day was on December 16, 2023, at Ascot in Perth. He had seven races that day and won his last three rides. His final win was on a horse named Munhamek in a race specially named after him, the Damien Oliver Gold Rush.
By the end of his career, Damien Oliver had ridden 3189 winners. This included an amazing 129 victories in Group 1 races. He holds the Australian record for the most Group 1 wins.
Racing Rule Violation and Suspension
In 2012, Damien Oliver faced a situation regarding a rule violation. He was found to have placed a bet on a different horse in a race where he was also riding. This happened at Moonee Valley Racecourse in 2010. Racing officials investigated the matter. They confirmed that he rode his own horse fairly and that his riding was not affected by the bet.
As a result of this rule violation, Oliver was suspended from racing. On November 13, 2012, he was formally charged. On November 20, 2012, he received an eight-month ban for the betting offense. He also received an extra two-month suspension for using a mobile phone in the jockeys' room, which is against the rules. This meant he could not ride in races until September 13, 2013.
When he returned to racing, Oliver quickly found success again, including his Melbourne Cup win shortly after. The rules for such offenses have become stricter since then. If the same situation happened today, the suspension would be much longer.
Awards and Achievements
Damien Oliver has received many awards for his excellent riding. He has won Racing Victoria's Scobie Breasley Medal fourteen times. This award recognizes the best race riding on Melbourne racetracks. Stewards vote on it after each race day.
In 2014, he won the first-ever Roy Higgins Medal. This award is given to the winner of the Victorian jockeys' premiership. Oliver also won the Melbourne Jockeys' Premiership in the 2014/15 season, riding 60 winners. This was his 10th time winning this award, putting him close to the record holders, Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan.
Personal Life
Damien Oliver is married to Trish, and they have three children: two daughters named Niali and Zara, and a son named Luke. They live in Port Melbourne, Australia.
Damien's older brother, Jason, was also a jockey. Sadly, Jason died on October 29, 2002, after a fall at Belmont Park Racecourse, Western Australia. This happened during a race trial when the horse he was riding fell.
Oliver is a fan of Australian Rules Football and supports the West Coast Eagles team in the Australian Football League.
