Melbourne Cup champion Glen Boss visits Gympie as guest speaker

Champion jockey Glen Boss is returning to his old stomping grounds for the first time in decades, where his extraordinary success offered a glimpse of what was to come.

Glen Boss is visiting Gympie as a guest speaker for the upcoming race day.

Australian jockey Glen Boss etched his name in the history book when he won the Melbourne Cup three times running, and now he is paying Gympie a visit for the first time since his record-breaking success.

Mr Boss will be the guest speaker at the luncheon at Scuba’s Car and Dog Wash 100 Club Cup race day on Saturday, April 15.

Gympie Turf Club secretary Alana Ratten said Mr Boss began his racing career with the club in the late 1980s as an apprentice when he about 15 years old.

“It didn’t take him long to learn the ropes, he won over 60 races within the span of 10 months and then moved onto bigger tracks further south,” she said.

Zipping Classic Day at Caulfield Racecourse – Glen Boss aboard Spanish Mission on November 27, 2021. Photo by Michael Klein.

Mr Boss continued to win more than 90 Group One races during his racing career, Ms Ratten said.

This included winning the Melbourne Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2005 on Makybe Diva, becoming the only jockey in history to win the Melbourne Cup three consecutive times.

Ninety-time Group One winning jockey Glen Boss, pictured at Moonee Valley, announced his retirement in 2021.

“Although he retired from race riding in November 2021, Glen is still very prominent around the racing scene, being an ambassador for Ladbrokes, so we are stoked he was able to find time in his schedule to make this all happen,” she said.

“I know the committee is very excited that Glen will be joining us. We are all looking forward to hearing from Glen himself about how his career began in Gympie and transpired from there.”

Gympie Turf Club secretary Alana Ratten stepped into her role in 2023.

Mr Boss will remain in Gympie for the race day and return to Melbourne on the same Saturday evening.

Ms Ratten said the club holds a 100 Club Luncheon with a guest speaker every year.

“Considering ‘Bossy’s’ background with not only thoroughbred racing but also to our small town of Gympie, we thought he would be the perfect fit,” she said.

The exciting occasion comes as the 1oo Club celebrates its 20th year in 2023 0f 100 businesses partnering with the Gympie Turf Club to promote and socialise as well as support the club.

Tickets to the luncheon include a two-course lunch, drink on arrival at their elevated trackside bar and can be purchased for $60.