With a slight grunt and a leap, Keith Ballard nonetheless manages to tug himself up onto the again of a horse.
It is a swift and rhythmic movement that would not flip many heads, if it weren’t for the very fact he’s 71 years previous.
The Mount Isa native has led an illustrious 55-year profession; man had simply landed on the moon when Ballard rode his first winner in 1969.
“Dad was an excellent rider and the city farrier in Longreach, so I have been round a racetrack so long as I can bear in mind,” he stated.
“I used to be 16 once I had my first trip, I used to be very small solely 5.7 stone, round 36 kilograms.”
With numerous wins over his profession, there’s been loads to smile about. (Equipped: Ballard household)
Born and bred in north-west Queensland, Ballard has by no means lived south of the Tropic of Capricorn, a bonus for a profession racing in a area that frequently swelters with temperatures creeping to 40 levels Celsius.
“I am acclimatised to this, we used to race all by way of summer time, and we have been simply used to it and so have been the animals,” he stated.
Driving his method into document books
With over 5 a long time within the saddle, driving predominantly on rural tracks, Ballard has virtually 2,000 winners below his belt.
The partitions of the household residence in Mount Isa are lined with the recollections of his success alongside the way in which, together with in famend races just like the Darwin Cup, Birdsville Cup and the Cleveland Bay Handicap.
Ballard took out the prized Birdsville Cup in 2009. (Equipped: Ballard household)
His fingers could also be marked by greater than half a century of outback solar, however age hasn’t made the outback hoop weary.
“It is a blood rush, you are going about 80-kilometres an hour in a packed subject.
“I am not as nimble as I would prefer to be, however it would not daunt me to leap up on them.”
Thrills and spills
Affectionately recognized within the business as KB, the jockey has stored “truckloads” of newspaper clippings over time. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)
Etched into historical past after competing in virtually 10,000 races, it is a rarity to have lasted so lengthy, with many jockeys pressured into retirement by weight points or damage.
However the journey to changing into Australia’s oldest energetic jockey, a title he has held since 2018, hasn’t been with out battle.
A fall close to the tiny rural city of McKinlay may have ended all of it a decade in the past.
Every horse stored on the Ballard house is handled as a member of the household. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)
“Through the years I’ve had loads of accidents. I’ve damaged legs, I’ve damaged arms,” he stated.
“I had a fall 12 years in the past so once I was 59, I landed upright and broke each legs. I used to be out of the saddle for 9 months, which nonetheless haunts me.
“I used to be instructed to retire then, however I by no means took it significantly.”
Racing legacy in his blood
The revered jockey was honoured with a guard of honour at a latest race meet. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)
A revered identify within the business, the Ballard household — together with Keith Ballard’s horse coaching spouse Denise and jockey son Dan — have numerous winners between them.
In 2021, the trio was inducted into the Queensland Racing Corridor of Fame.
With a childhood spent serving to his mother and father on and off the observe, Dan Ballard additionally loved a 23-year-long jockey profession, usually racing alongside his father.
“Dad’s been not solely an exquisite jockey however a terrific father and positively a terrific grandfather,” he stated.
Dan says he raced alongside his father all of his grownup life. (Equipped: Ballard household)
“I took a step again and it form of hit me that the theme that is been a continuing in my life will not be a continuing in my youngsters’s life.
“Dad’s work ethic, his aggressive will to win, his consistency and his integrity, I believe that is a legacy that you could grasp your hat on, and he must be very happy with. We definitely are.”
Keith Ballard stated household was entrance of thoughts when making the robust name to retire.
KB seems ahead to extra time spent feeding his horses homegrown carrots together with his grandchildren. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)
“There will be an enormous void there, I am going to nonetheless trip observe work for Denise, that may preserve me a bit match,” he stated.
“I like my gardening, and I’ve received two great grandchildren, I will be placing a number of hours into them.”
Ballard will likely be farewelled at his residence racetrack in Mount Isa, which he can see from the doorstep of his home, this weekend.
