HORSE RACING
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At a time when apprentices riding Group 1s were few and far between, Bart Cummings gave a promising teenager a chance he remains 'thankful' for to this day.
The year was 1979 and the champion trainer was struggling to find a rider for his Golden Slipper hope Century Miss.
After a few words with an old friend, he'd eventually settle on 18-year-old apprentice Wayne Harris.
"He showed confidence in me," the retired now Wollongong-based Harris recalls.
"Him and the late journalist Bert Lillye, who has a great supporter of mine, were very close and a couple of jockeys had knocked back the ride.
"Bart didn't know who he should put on the horse. Bert said 'well you put on Wayne any other day of the week' and Bart said 'but this is a Group 1'.
"Bert said 'you have faith in him any other day, give him a chance'.
"Bart ran it past the owners and they were happy for it. I had never been on the horse's back before but it's history now that she came from back in the field and won the Slipper.
"I think it changed a lot of things for apprentices from that day on."
That bit of faith saw Harris help Cummings win his fourth and final Golden Slipper. But it was another of Australia's great races on which the trainer built his reputation.
Cummings won a record 12 Melbourne Cups across a career spanning more than 50 years.
During that period Harris also tasted Cup glory, on Jeune for David Hayes in 1994.
It's at the scene of that win where the pair shared one last fond memory less than 12 months ago.
"I was being honoured at a 20-year reunion for winning the Cup and they had a special set up for me. They said 'is it OK if we move you, we have someone important we need to sit there'," Harris recalled.
"I thought, who could be more important, and it was Bart. We sat together and had a drink.
"I was so glad I spent that time with him. You never know when it is the last time you are going to see someone and I knew he hadn't been well.
"I was with him for a while and his wit was still clear. Although his health was deteriorating, he was still very smart and funny. I will always think of him fondly."
Cummings died aged 87 on Sunday morning surrounded by family.
Regarded by many as Australia's most successful trainer, his legacy will remain in the hearts and minds of so many in the industry.
"Right up until the day he died, he had the respect of everyone in racing. He was an absolute legend," Harris said.
