J. J. Miller
Encyclopedia
John Miller (born in Fremantle, Western Australia
on 28 April 1933) is a former champion jockey
and horse trainer
. Miller rode more than 2200 winners in a career which started with his first win after just six races in 1947. He rode his last race in 1988 and then went on to a successful career as a trainer. He rode winners in all Australian states as well as enjoying overseas success in England, Mauritius, Ireland and Singapore.
Miller was often controversial during his career, frequently being in dispute with racing stewards and often being banned from racing for extended periods as a result. In the mid 1960s he moved to South Australia
from where he rode for leading trainers in Colin Hayes
and Bart Cummings
.
Miller rode in the 1965 Melbourne Cup
, coming second in a photo finish. His greatest ride was in the following season however, when he won the 1966 Melbourne Cup on Gallilee
, completing a "double" after winning the Caulfield Cup
just previously. The next year he rode Gallilee again to win the 1967 Sydney Cup
becoming the only jockey (and Gallilee being the only horse) to have ever won the "triple".
He rode winners in six Australian Derbys, and returning to Western Australia, two Perth Cup
s and a Railway Stakes
. In the 1987 Perth Cup, his Laurie Connell
owned mount Rocket Racer won the race by nine lengths in controversial circumstances.
Miller was inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions
on 1995.
His two sons Mark and Shane as well as his wife Kay Miller are all well-known Western Australian horse racing identities. His other son Ray has had a checkered career and has been warned off by the racing authorities in Western Australia
. In October 2007 Miller faced being sued by estranged son Mark over a land deal in Baldivis, Western Australia
.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on 28 April 1933) is a former champion jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. Miller rode more than 2200 winners in a career which started with his first win after just six races in 1947. He rode his last race in 1988 and then went on to a successful career as a trainer. He rode winners in all Australian states as well as enjoying overseas success in England, Mauritius, Ireland and Singapore.
Miller was often controversial during his career, frequently being in dispute with racing stewards and often being banned from racing for extended periods as a result. In the mid 1960s he moved to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
from where he rode for leading trainers in Colin Hayes
Colin Hayes
Colin Sidney Hayes was a champion trainer of thoroughbred racehorses based in Adelaide, Australia.During his career he trained 5,333 winners including 524 individual Group or Listed winners. He won 28 Adelaide and 13 Melbourne Trainers' Premierships.-Early days:Colin was born in Semaphore, South...
and Bart Cummings
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
.
Miller rode in the 1965 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, coming second in a photo finish. His greatest ride was in the following season however, when he won the 1966 Melbourne Cup on Gallilee
Galilee (horse)
Galilee, was a bay Thoroughbred gelding who was foaled in 1963 at Trelawney Stud, Cambridge, New Zealand. He later became one of the most successful racehorses in Australia. Galilee was sired by the very good racehorse and sire, Alcimedes*, from the mare Galston by Balloch*...
, completing a "double" after winning the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
just previously. The next year he rode Gallilee again to win the 1967 Sydney Cup
Sydney Cup
The Sydney Cup is an Australian horse race, held for Thoroughbred horses and run over 3200 metres. It is run every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales in April/May...
becoming the only jockey (and Gallilee being the only horse) to have ever won the "triple".
He rode winners in six Australian Derbys, and returning to Western Australia, two Perth Cup
Perth Cup
The Perth Cup is Western Australia's premier Thoroughbred horse race and is held at Ascot Racecourse on New Year's Day each year. It has been run since 1887....
s and a Railway Stakes
Railway Stakes (Australia)
The Railway Stakes is a WATC Group 1 1600 metre Thoroughbred horse race under handicap conditions. The race is held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia in November. Prizemoney was increased to $1 million in 2007.-Distance:...
. In the 1987 Perth Cup, his Laurie Connell
Laurie Connell
Laurie Connell was a Western Australian business entrepreneur. He was well known for his dealings with the Government of Western Australia and his close relationship with the then Premier of Western Australia, Brian Burke, during the WA Inc period in the mid to late 1980s as chairman of the...
owned mount Rocket Racer won the race by nine lengths in controversial circumstances.
Miller was inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions
Western Australian Hall of Champions
In 1983, the Sportswriters' Association of Western Australia proposed a Western Australian Hall of Champions to honour past athletes from the state who had made a significant impact in their sport...
on 1995.
His two sons Mark and Shane as well as his wife Kay Miller are all well-known Western Australian horse racing identities. His other son Ray has had a checkered career and has been warned off by the racing authorities in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. In October 2007 Miller faced being sued by estranged son Mark over a land deal in Baldivis, Western Australia
Baldivis, Western Australia
Baldivis is a semi-rural residential suburb south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and southeast of the regional centre of Rockingham...
.