INSIDE RACING JOHN DUGGAN 2006

It was the middle of 2006 when I set out to locate John Duggan who had all but disappeared from the Sydney racing scene. The former champion jockey hadn’t been seen at a race meeting for several years, and countless phone calls to some of his old friends and associates failed to reveal his whereabouts. I somehow managed to get a mobile number for John’s son who from memory was coaching a junior sports team. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he told me his father was standing by his side.
A few days later Johnny Duggan was sitting in front of me in the Sky studio and was in reminiscent mood as he looked back on a riding career highlighted by victories in a Melbourne Cup, Golden Slipper, Caulfield Cup, Sydney Cup, VRC Oaks, two Doncasters, a Sydney Cup, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on two occasions. He reflected on his good fortune in gaining an apprenticeship with Theo Green. He fondly remembered two early wins on the iconic Kingston Town.