Harry White passes away, aged 78
Four-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Harry White has passed away on the eve of the Cox Plate, aged 78.
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame jockey lost a lengthy battle with illness on the eve of the running of the Cox Plate, a race he won in 1987 aboard favourite Rubiton.
In a glittering Victorian career, White piloted a record-equalling four Melbourne Cup winners in Think Big (1974 and 1975), Arwon (1978) and Hyperno (1979) all for the legendary trainer and the “Cups King” Bart Cummings.
Only Bobbie Lewis has also ridden four Melbourne Cup winners but with current jockeys Damien Oliver and Kerrin McEvoy striving to join the legendary pair on that figure this spring.
White was often regarded as a calm jockey who managed to get the very best out of sprinters and stayers throughout his riding career which spanned over 35 years.
White would go on to claim the coveted Melbourne Jockeys Premiership on four occasions in 1967-68, 1973-74, 1978-79 and 1980-81.
He followed in the footsteps of his father and managed to claim the Caulfield Cup on board Sobar (1972) and Ming Dynasty (1977).
Harry White was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame with a feature race haul that included five Australian Cups, three Oakleigh Plates, three Newmarket Handicaps and three Futurity Stakes.
Tributes have been flowing for the legendary jockey, with jockey’s at the Moonee Valley meeting for Cox Plate Day expected to honour the great on Saturday afternoon.
The VRC will also acknowledge White throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival.