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Noel Harris
New Zealand jockey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Noel Graham Harris MNZM (born 1955 or 1956) is a former New Zealand Thoroughbred racing jockey.[1] He rode 2,167 race winners in New Zealand, which is the fourth-highest total, behind Chris Johnson, David Walsh and Lance O'Sullivan.[2] He has won the jockeys' premiership in both New Zealand and Singapore. In 2018, Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, and in December 2024 he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
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Riding career
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Born in 1955 or 1956,[3] Harris was apprenticed at Woodville to his father, John William (Jock) Harris, who was a leading jockey both on the flat and over jumps before becoming a horse trainer. He rode his first winner at Foxton on 16 May 1970, and took out the 1971–1972 apprentice jockeys' premiership as an 18-year-old, before sharing the national jockeys' premiership with David Peake the following year.[4]
During his career, Harris achieved 34 group one wins, including almost all of the major races in New Zealand.[5] He won three Wellington Cups on Castletown, four New Zealand Cups, and three Auckland Cups. With eight 3200-metre cup wins in New Zealand, Harris shares the record with Bob Skelton.
As an 18-year-old, Harris rode the Jock Harris-trained Glengowan to a close second behind Gala Supreme in the 1973 Melbourne Cup. Other placings for Harris in the Melbourne Cup include finishing fourth in the 1984 Cup on Lord Metric and the 1986 Cup with Kiwi, and Castletown's third placing in 1992.
Harris's biography, Harry, The Ride Of My Life, by Wally O'Hearn was released in August 2012.
Harris retired in 2015 and became a national riding mentor for apprentice jockeys. He was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. In the 2025 New Year Honours, Harris was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Thoroughbred racing industry.[6]
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Family
Harris's two oldest siblings, John and Des, were both leading apprentice jockeys, and his three other siblings—Peter, Karen and Jenny—were also jockeys.[7] John, Des and Peter Harris all became horse trainers.
Harris's son, Troy Harris, is also a jockey.
Notable victories
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Major races won by Harris include:
See also
References
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