FORMER star Central West jockey Bill Aspros is reminded every year of the highs and lows of the racing industry when the race named in his honour is held at Tyers Park.
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The Bill Aspros Cup will provide one of the highlights of a stacked program this Sunday at the Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing Bathurst Cup meeting, which is a Racing NSW Saddle-Up Sunday event.
The race is held to remember the career of one of the best jockeys – if not the best jockey – to come from the area, before two serious falls in 1996 and 1998 brought an end to “King Billy’s” celebrated career in the saddle.
He had a crack at the training game, but the ever-increasing costs of running a stable forced him out of the game altogether 10 years ago, and he finished his professional career when Fairy Penguin ran second at the Bathurst track in June 2005.
A winner of more than 1,500 races as a jockey, 12 Western Districts jockeys’ premierships, Group 1 races and one of the main riders of former Cox Plate winner Rising Prince, Aspros’ name is forever linked to the sport in this part of the world.
“I don’t go out to the races as much as I used to. It is just too hard for me to watch it knowing that I would probably still be riding if I hadn’t had those falls,” he said.
“This race has been around for a while now, though, and it is always a tremendous honour to know that there is a race named after you.
“I need to thank the people that have put this on. It is nice that my deeds on the track still get remembered.”
There will be a sense of nostalgia about the meeting this weekend, with Aspros set to be joined by one of his premier rivals from his heyday, Ron Quinton.
Aspros locked horns with Quinton – now a trainer – many times, and the mere presence of a hoop who rode the mighty Kingston Town to a Cox Plate win, as well as counting an Irish St Leger victory among his 2,000-plus wins, illustrates the regard in which Aspros is held.
One of Aspros’ oldest rivals from the bush also has a major role to play.
Bathurst trainer Peter Stanley has two runners nominated for the race, and the man after whom the event is named would love to see him succeed.
“I rode against Pete for a long, long time out here and he is a real character,” Aspros said.
“He’s fantastic for racing and it is great to see him doing well as a trainer.
“Ronny was at the top of his game when I was riding in Sydney. He was a very good jockey and among the absolute top riders down there.
“He and Kevin Langby were just great at what they did. Very polished.
“I didn’t know he was going to be here to present the award, but it is great that he will be. It will be nice to see him.”
