Jockey leaves Melbourne Cups in back of Sydney cab

Australian jockey Glen Boss had a nasty shock on a recent trip to Sydney, but one hero came forward to save the day.

Thomas Henry

3 min read

December 3, 2024 - 7:08AM

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Ever had that sinking feeling, reaching into your pocket only to realise your phone is currently doing a scenic tour of the city, courtesy of that cab you just got out of?

So too did legendary Australian jockey Glen Boss, as he watched his three prized Melbourne cups drive off in the back of a 13cabs taxi.

For the three-time winner of the race that stops the nation, this was the ride that stopped his heart.

Rushing to another engagement having addressed the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Calcutta, Boss was too late to hail back the cab driver in possession of his trophies.

Lucky for him, Sydney driver Gedy Hildid was determined to return the cups to their rightful owner.

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Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss left his prized Cups in the back of a 13cabs taxi, which were returned by driver Gedy Hildid. Picture: 13cabs

Having no familiarity with racing, and certainly no idea of the significance of the cups themselves, Hildid managed to track Boss down and return them.

“As you would understand, the Cups mean the world to me, and I was super grateful to get them back,” Boss told news.com.au.

Speaking to news.com.au, 13cabs Chief Operating Office Olivia Barry praised Hildid, saying: “It was such a wonderful story because the driver did not know what they were, he wasn’t familiar with racing and had no idea what he was returning.”

“I think that’s what’s so special about that story actually, he just wanted to get them back to their owner,” Ms Barry said.

13cabs passengers Shaun Jones holding the $800 returned to him by driver Al Akbar Gholami. Picture: 13cabs

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Australia’s largest taxi network has released its 2024 lost property list, highlighting the weirdest and wackiest items left behind by passengers.

Of course there were the usual suspects: phones, wallets, air pods and sunglasses which were the more common items found in taxi back seats, but drivers also had their fair share of unusual finds.

After an encounter with a fare evader, one NSW cabbie ended up being paid in an alternate currency – four bags of raw meat.

Bottles of alcohol left behind in 13cabs taxis. Picture: Supplied

A hand-carved walking stick left in a 13cabs taxi. Picture: Supplied

Looking to South Australia, one forgetful Aussie managed to leave his deck chair in the back of his taxi.

“Last year we had a prosthetic leg left in one of our cabs, that really takes the cake,” Ms Barry said.

From $230 bottles of French Champagne in Queensland to a more sentimental pink fluffy teddy bear in WA, Ms Barry praised the network’s drivers for their dedication to returning lost items.

“It is something we absolutely hang our hat on, our drivers go above and beyond to reunite passengers with their belongings,” she said.

This is certainly no mean feat, across the country passengers left behind more than 9000 items just this year. Victoria came in as the country’s most forgetful state with 2,886 items left, closely followed by Queensland and then New South Wales.

As rideshare services like Uber continue to eat the breakfast, lunch and dinner of traditional cab services, Ms Barry emphasised this superior returns policy for lost goods as a differentiator.

“It is something that our drivers are taught to do as a part of their training, and they are rewarded for returning goods as part of our driver rewards system,” Ms Barry said.

“Unlike rideshare, we work tirelessly to ensure lost property is returned to its rightful owner,

often within hours.”

Most forgetful states

● Victoria: 2,886 items

● Queensland: 2,444 items

● New South Wales: 2,415 items

● South Australia: 492 items

● Western Australia: 460 items

● Northern Territory: 85 items

● Australian Capital Territory: 22 items

● Tasmania: 47 items