Search the collections
Jim Pike, Jockey (1892-1969)
Image: Oil Painting - Phar Lap with Jim Pike by Stuart Reid
Source: Museum Victoria
Jim Pike was so renowned as a jockey that even to this day racing experts and punters often say of a jockey that he 'rode it like J. Pike'. He is best-known for his partnership with
Phar Lap, on whom he won 27 races from 30 rides. The pair combined to win the 1930 Melbourne Cup. Pike also won two Caulfield Cups, six VRC Derbies (four of these in a row) and two Cox Plates.Born on 4 September 1892, in Newcastle, New South Wales, James Edward Pike was the
eldest child of Charles Pike, a Newcastle-born butcher and later racecourse attendant, and his Victorian wife Jane Isabella, née Liddell. As a boy Jim took an early interest in horses often playing truant from school to go riding. He joined Ernie Connors' stables at the age of 12, weighing under four stone (25 kg), and had his mount in a race soon afterwards. Banned twice for being under age, in 1906 he was apprenticed to the Sydney trainer William Kelso. He rode his first winner at the age of thirteen, in July 1906, and at the age of fifteen rode Welcome Jack to third place in the Caulfield Cup. By February 1908 he had ridden some forty winners. Bill Kelso was so impressed by Pike's performance, that he offered to take him to England in 1908. There Pike rode 17 races for just 2 wins and 5 placings, but managed to impress Lord Carnarvon, a leading horse owner. After a few months Pike returned to Australia, where he completed his apprenticeship with Bill Kelso at Randwick. In October 1910, aged eighteen, he won his first major race when he rode Beverage to victory in the Victoria Derby at Flemington.Pike was a cool-headed jockey who showed style, perfect balance and sure hands in the saddle. He was known for getting the best ride possible out of a horse while rarely resorting to using the whip. Being one of Australia's finest jockeys, he was offered more races on top horses than anyone else. Known for his honesty, he claimed a strong following among punters and like Phar Lap gained many loyal fans from his success during the Depression years. It was claimed that he was offered large sums of money to stop Phar Lap winning some major races, and his refusal certainly contributed to Phar Lap's outstanding success.
From his share of winnings Pike became a very wealthy man, but a gambling habit left him broke only six months after retirement in April 1936. He died in 1969, impoverished but honest, and held in high public esteem. He was inducted into the New South Wales Hall of Champions at Homebush Bay on 25 August 1999 and into The Australian Racing Hall of Fame in Melbourne on 30 June 2002.
Related Stories:
Phar Lap, Champion Race Horse (1926-1932)
Harry Telford, Race Horse Owner & Trainer (1877-1960)
David Davis, Entrepreneur & Race Horse Owner
Tommy Woodcock, Race Horse Strapper & Trainer (1905-1985)
Phar Lap in America, 1932
Phar Lap Collection
Related Resources:
Phar Lap - the Story of Australia's Wonder Horse
Phar Lap Infosheet
References:
Reason, Michael, 2005, Phar Lap: A True Legend, Museum Victoria, Melbourne (revised edition 2009).
Molony, John N., 'Pike, James Edward (Jim) (1892-1969)', Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition, http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110237b.htm.
Australian Racing Hall of Fame website http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Hall_of_Fame.aspx.
NSW Hall of Champions website http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Visiting/recreational_activities/nsw_hall_of_champions.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 11 - 15) 15 items
-
Medal - 123rd Melbourne Cup, M.R. Roberts Ltd, New South Wales, Australia, 1983
This medal issued by M.R. Roberts from the Wynyard Coin Centre in Sydney to commemorate the 1983 Melbourne Cup. It features the champion race horse Phar Lap and jockey Jim Pike, who won ...
Images: 2 -
Medal - 123rd Melbourne Cup, M.R. Roberts Ltd, New South Wales, Australia, 1983
This medal issued by M.R. Roberts from the Wynyard Coin Centre in Sydney to commemorate the 1983 Melbourne Cup. It features the champion race horse Phar Lap and jockey Jim Pike, who won ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 2 -
Cap - Jockey, Telford Colours, Phar Lap, 1930s
The cap was made by Ballantynes for horse trainer Harry Telford, to compliment his racing colours of red, black and white. They were used by jockeys riding the champion race horse Phar ...
From: Mordialloc, Australia Images: 1 -
Jacket - Jockey Silks, Telford Colours, Phar Lap, 1930s
The jacket was made by Ballantynes for horse trainer Harry Telford, using the colours red, black and white. They were used by jockeys riding the champion race horse Phar Lap from his fi ...
Images: 8 -
Taxidermy Specimen - Phar Lap, Race Horse, Timaru, New Zealand, 1926-1932
Scientific Name: Equus ferus caballus Mounted hide of the racehorse Phar Lap, prepared by Jonas Brothers Studio, New York, 1932. Phar Lap was born on 4 October 1926 at the Seadown Stu ...
Images: 10
