‘I get white line fever’: Noel Callow still has drive to ride in the city after stint as an Uber driver

Noel Callow might be renowned for his one-liners and funny gags, but insists he is now serious about having a proper go at riding in the big smoke after he was making ends meet as an Uber driver.

Noel Callow wants to show he can still be a force in the city. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

When many jockeys strike it rich on Gold Coast Magic Millions day, it’s because they’ve won a big race on the track.

Noel “King” Callow was making ends meet as an Uber driver.

The larrikin jockey, known for his quick wit and funny one-liners, might be flamboyant and charismatic presence out of the saddle but insists he is now deadly serious about showing everyone he is still one of the best jockeys around.

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When riding in a race, Callow said he gets white line fever and is as desperate and determined as any jockey.

That was on show at Doomben last Saturday when Callow produced a daring ride fitting of his “King” nickname when he conjured a magic trick to somehow surge Safework to a narrow victory despite being last and then behind a wall of horses.

Originally content to mainly ride on the Gold Coast which he now calls home, Callow, 49, insisted he wants to make a proper go of riding in town in Brisbane.

The five-time Aussie Group 1 winner said when he puts his head down, he can still match it with the best jockeys.

SAFEWORK from last! 🤩

‘The King’ Noel Callow weaves his magic to get the @MorriseyRacing galloper home on the post!

Class win, class ride!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/lPPsueHtFS

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) September 7, 2024

“When I get off a horse I’ve got adrenaline racing through me and I’m pumped up, I don’t know what’s going to come out of my mouth,” Callow told Racenet.

“But when the gates open, I get white line fever.

“I have taken on jockeys all over the world and beaten them.

“I guess when I moved to the Gold Coast, I wanted to enjoy my life as well, so I rode on the coast.

“But I bobbed up and rode a winner for (Robert) Heathcote somewhere and he said he wanted to support me with rides.

“I said to my wife, ‘I know I can do it and I want to have a proper crack’.

“There are six (city) stables you want to ride for and I'm riding for one at the moment.

“But I would 100 per cent grab other opportunities to ride in town.”

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Callow is closing in on 2000 career wins and despite five Group 1s in Australia, including the 2005 Victoria Derby on Benicio for Lee Freedman, he often felt he was more renowned in Asia where he rode with success.

“I’m Brad Pitt in Asia and I’m armpit in Australia,” is one of Callow’s renowned one-liners.

Noel Callow rides Benicio to the line to win the 2005 Victoria Derby.

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Despite a renewed urge to ride big race winners, Callow is determined to still have fun and enjoy life.

He will never be a cardboard cutout and chuckles at the memory of driving Ubers on the coast during the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival.

“I was doing the Magic Millions run in the Uber,” Callow said.

“I took Annabel Neasham to the airport.

“She said ‘what are you doing?’

“I said, ‘I’m your driver’.

“She said to me she would have to give me a (jockey) ride.

“I also picked up (media personality) Jason Richardson and some high flyers from the China Horse Club.”

Callow, who did a stint riding in Darwin during the Cup carnival in the Top End recently, has been booked for five rides at the city meeting at Doomben on Wednesday.

Originally published as ‘I get white line fever’: Noel Callow still has drive to ride in the city after stint as an Uber driver