Writing Roy Higgins' memoirs would be a daunting challenge for any writer. I admired the man, and counted him as a friend – as many in the racing industry did. He was one of those rare human beings who had the magical ability to make anyone feel welcome. To write a book about his life, so soon after his death, was difficult, not only because of the number of words required, but the importance of giving his story the respect it deserved.
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But it's been a thrill to meet and interview those who knew the great man throughout his life and career. From his three sisters in Deniliquin, to Bart Cummings, to a retired police officer named David Eadie. Everyone had their own story about how "The Professor", "Roy", "Higgins" or "Higgs" had touched their lives.
Higgs loved a beer, and the weekly catch-up with the chief of staff provided the opportunity to have a few beers while discussing the interviews, structure of the book, and the looming deadline.
It was the silver lining in a project which we overwhelmingly had to get right! Higgs wouldn't have had it any other way.
I remember sitting down with Higgs for his final piece for The Age just over a year ago. We penned an article about his only Caulfield Cup win, on Big Philou in 1969.
We reminisced about the infamous win, and Higgs only had thoughts for the effect it had had on the losing horse's jockey, Des Lake. Nausori passed the post first, but Lake hadn't kept him in a straight line – and had cut Higgins and Big Philou off with 200 metres to go.
Higgins, as history tells us, fired in a protest and duly completed the grand slam of feature races in Australia. Lake was distraught after losing the cup on protest and never fully recovered, experiencing alcohol abuse, and depression. It was a true sign of what a remarkable man Higgins was, that when reflecting on one of his greatest triumphs that he could only think about the others involved – deflecting the praise that he deservedly earned.
Only a handful of jockeys have won the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper and Caulfield Cup. Higgins had done so by the time he was 31.
The success Higgins experienced came at a cost. His body was tormented for the best part of 30 years in the saddle. He barely ate, and spent many hours in the sauna to make the weight for his rides.
Higgins rarely rode below 54 kilograms, but his normal weight was probably close to 63 kilograms. Through interviews with his sisters, daughters and ex-wife Genine, we heard stories of how he wasted for his first ride as a 15-year-old, to measuring his weight-loss by dripping his sweat into a glass, as witnessed by his young daughters.
With today's science around weight-loss, this would have been frowned upon. But back in the 1960's and 1970's when Higgins was riding, this was what he had to do.
Higgins was part of the revolution that saw jockeys go from being seen but not heard, to members of the racing community who were respected.
He became famous not just for his skills in the saddle, but also for his appearances in the media during and after he finished riding. He was the punter's best friend and the bookmaker's enemy.
His rides always started short-priced favourites and his record-equalling 11 premierships justified this confidence from punters.
Higgins was also famous for his hospitality and would invite everyone back to his house in Brighton after the races on Saturday.
Guests would include former prime minister Bob Hawke, and Andrew Peacock. Trainers, jockeys and their partners were welcome, too.
Saturday's were the only nights he would indulge himself with more than a minute piece of steamed fish and some vegetables.
We had a young guy on board who loved racing, but only knew of Roy Higgins as an ex-jockey. He said to me after the book was finished that he finally felt like he understood who The Professor was. He summed it up with "when my friends ask me who Roy Higgins is, I respond with 'he was the Damien Oliver of his time – but back when racing was as big as AFL, if not bigger'."
Higgins was a celebrity, Hall of Fame jockey, and all-round incredible human being who taught us all so many lessons. I'm so proud of the book, and I'm sure Higgs would have loved every page – it is humble, reflective and honest, just like the man.
ROY HIGGINS: Australia's favourite jockey by Patrick Bartley, Penguin
THE WATCHMAN
14 minutes to midnight for... David Moyes The short-lived Manchester United manager is still bemused about his sacking. "I think that United always stood for the right things and I expected them to do what was right with me."
LOCAL HERO
It's sometimes been said that a baggy blue is the key to a baggy green in cricket, but Victoria's women cricketers are showing that their home state is no barrier to national selection. Six players from the VicSpirit - Meg Lanning, Kristen Beams, Jess Cameron, Elyse Villani, Nicole Bolton and Julie Hunter - were this week named in the Southern Stars squad to face West Indies next month.
WHAT THEY SHOULD DO...
... is rename the AFL premiership cup the Ron Barassi Cup. We have recognised many of our past greats with various medals and awards, but the man who was involved in 17 grand finals for 10 premierships as a player and coach and who did so much to promote the game should be honoured with his name on the game's greatest prize. It's time to recognise his contribution to the game while he can also appreciate it. - RICK O'BRIEN, Canberra
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