CLICKETY-CLACK, The Pumper is coming to Griffith’s race track.
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Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jim Cassidy will be a special guest at the Griffith Cup in September.
Cassidy has packed as much as he can in for his whirlwind visit.
After he flies in on the Thursday night, the legendary rider will head out to the Griffith Golf Course for a round on Friday before he attends the Griffith Cup Calcutta at the Victoria Hotel during the evening.
The Saturday will see Cassidy at Dalton Park for the races before he flies out on the Sunday.
The trip won’t be Cassidy’s first to the Riverina, having been down this way in the 90s and most recently in Wagga where he was an ambassador for the Wagga Gold Cup carnival in May.
“I have a lot of friends in Griffith and all throughout the Riverina. I always enjoy getting down that way,” Cassidy said. “When I was suspended in 95, I got down there a fair bit and it’ll be nice to be back in town.”
Since retiring in 2015, Cassidy, who won over 100 group one races, has enjoyed giving back to the racing community.
This is another way of doing that whilst having a ball at the same time and Cassidy said he was excited about the Griffith Jockey Club’s big day.
“It’s [Griffith Cup] Flemington in its own right,” he said.
“It’s their big day, it’s their cup day and I hope everyone will get out and support it.
“We’ll be there to promote the club but more importantly we’re there to have fun.”
None were more excited for Cassidy’s arrival than the Griffith Jockey Club.
Not only by the calibre of the jockey he is but also for his big personality.
“It lifts the profile of a little club like ours and gives it a bit of a kick along,” Griffith Jockey Club committee member Tony Kelly said.
“He’ll be mixing with the all the people on the day, signing autographs, telling stories and he’ll have bits of memorabilia with him.”
The piece of memorabilia that is sure to catch most punters’ eyes will be a boot Cassidy wore on Melbourne Cup day. It is signed by Cassidy, Michelle Payne, Ryan Moore and Damien Oliver.
Cassidy will auction it off for charity in Griffith.