FEATURE STORY
Heart of Dreams raced away with the Australian Guineas that year in an emotional win, in the same race Newitt had won a year earlier on Light Fantastic. Following this success, personal difficulties in his marriage prompted a return to Tasmania where he only rode on Saturdays. “Unfortunately, my marriage ended. I had to rally and take stock of my life. I was in my early 30s and with my marriage now over and the courts granting me full custody of my four boys, I decided to make another go of it [in Victoria]. “But racing had moved on. Victoria had become a tough, hard environment for jockeys and I was stunned to see the likes of Oliver and Williams riding on Sundays which was usually reserved for the middle order.” Newitt quickly carved out a living in Melbourne, however, despite the state being highly competitive. He had two great advantages on his side. He could ride light, and he rode with the whip in the left hand – always an amazing advantage over other jockeys. He’s ridden in 10 Lexus Melbourne Cups and has been at the top of the Melbourne Group 1 list for jockeys for decades now. Now, at 36, Newitt has a settled home life, a good steady flow of rides and a new partner. With all of these ducks in line, it is not out of the question that a third Australian Guineas may not be far away.
DID YOU KNOW?
As a teenager, Craig Newitt played football on a Saturday morning until three-quarter time, then would take a full book of rides at the races that afternoon. It was a tough choice between AFL and racing, but the gifted young sportsman decided to pursue a life in the saddle. It paid off when he was named the Apprentice of the Year at just 15 and then at 16 won both the apprentices and the overall premiership in Tasmania.
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