By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
The legendary Jimmy Cassidy never does things by halves.
So when the dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey decided to get involved in his first standardbred he went all in.
“I’ve always wanted one so decided to give it a crack,” Cassidy said from Sydney.
Not only did he put his money where his mouth was but agreed to a suggestion by his “great mate” Graeme Rogerson that the colt be called “Go Jimmy Cassidy”.
The two-year-old qualified at Cambridge Raceway last week.
The son of American Ideal was bought by Hamilton-based Rogerson Bloodstock for $42,500 from the 2024 National Yearling Sales.
So how did the deal come about?
“I’ve known Rogie since I was 11 years old – he helped me throughout my career, we are great mates,” says Cassidy.
“I go to Rogie’s three to five times a year and stay with him and Deb and he’s always got horses strewn everywhere on his table and I saw this one and said ‘that’s a good looking horse'”.
“I didn’t know if it was a trotter or a pacer or a galloper and he said ‘it’s a pacer'”
“I said “I’ll take a share in it”, says Cassidy, “it was just a good-bodied horse.”
And it was Rogerson who came up with the name.
“He said ‘why don’t we call it Go Jimmy Cassidy and I said ‘you’re an idiot.'”
Known as “Pumper” because of his distinctive up and down riding style, Cassidy won over 100 Group 1 races in a colourful and highly successful career that included two Melbourne Cup wins. His “last to first” win with Kiwi in 1983 is racing folklore and was followed by his second with Might And Power 14 years later. He retired in 2015 aged 53 after a 36-year career and nearly 2000 winners.
Over the years greyhounds and other horses have had names such as Jimmy the Pumper and King Cassidy and he knows he’s going to get some ribbing over this latest one, not that he’s worried in the slightest.
“I’ve been copping it all my life mate.”
Cassidy quickly got together his ownership group. It includes wife Vicki and some golfing mates (Cassidy is a 8 handicapper himself).
“I syndicated it for him and I put a heap of my old mates in it from here in Sydney, a group of cotton farmers and others and we are just going to use it as a bit of fun.”
Cassidy is already thinking about being trackside to see the youngster in the flesh.
“Hopefully when he’s ready to go my mates who all play golf will come over and play some golf and then we’ll go to the races and watch him race.”
“He had a bit of foot trouble but he’s got that right now, and he’s qualified – we’ll give him a couple of weeks and then start fresh.”
And like his two-year-old namesake Cassidy is just taking it one step at a time.
“It’s fun – if I do something I like to enjoy it. Whatever happens happens and that’s one of the great things about this game called racing.”
